In a bid to ensure fairness and accuracy in the upcoming heavyweight undisputed championship between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on May 18th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has proposed significant changes to the fight’s judging and review system. Sulaiman advocates for increasing the number of judges from three to five and implementing video replay capabilities for the bout.
The call for these changes stems from controversial moments in both fighters' recent matches. Fury, the WBC champion, secured a contentious decision win against Francis Ngannou last October, a bout many believed he lost. Similarly, Usyk was involved in a dubious incident against Daniel Dubois, where a critical punch was mistakenly ruled as a low blow, potentially altering the fight’s outcome. Video replay, Sulaiman argues, could have provided clarity in these situations, ensuring a fairer judgment.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Sulaiman emphasized the importance of minimizing controversy, especially in a fight of such magnitude. He suggested that a broader panel of judges would reduce the likelihood of erroneous decisions, thus preserving the integrity of the match’s result. “The more officials that score a fight, the less possibility of a wrong decision,” Sulaiman explained, highlighting the need to mitigate the impact of individual judging errors.
However, the proposal might face opposition, given its potential to disrupt the status quo of boxing scoring and its implications for fights involving high-profile athletes. Critics argue that such changes could particularly affect “A-side” fighters, who often benefit from close and controversial decisions.
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