Tyson Fury's long count explained after Oleksandr Usyk fight controversy

22 May 2024 , 18:55

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Tyson Fury's long count explained after Oleksandr Usyk fight controversy

Tyson Fury's 'long count' after being badly hurt in his Oleksandr Usyk fight has been explained by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

Fury lost on points to fellow heavyweight champion Usyk in their undisputed fight last weekend in Saudi Arabia. The Ukrainian was crowned the first undisputed heavyweight world champion for 25 years but all four of his belts won't be on the line when he fights Fury again in October, as he will be stripped of his IBF title in the coming weeks.

Usyk weathered an early storm against Fury to almost KO the Brit in round nine, but he was saved by the referee and the bell. Fury somehow managed to go all 12 rounds but lost by scores of 115-112, 113-114, 114-113. Hearn has explained why he doesn't think referee Mark Nelson's decision to step in and allow Fury to recover was controversial.

Tyson Fury lost his undisputed fight to Oleksandr Usyk (PA)

"I think there's a lot of British referees on British soil that would have stopped that fight. He literally covered every millimetre of that ring staggering. Went that way, went over to the side, came back again, went down there. Remarkable courage, heart and determination," Hearn said on The MMA Hour.

"I don't mind Mark Nelson's play right there but I do feel like he gave a lot of time to Tyson in the count and afterwards. At that point, it's up to Mark Nelson to carefully consider if Tyson should continue the fight. He's not thinking 'Quick, let me have look, yeah quick, off you go again.' He's thinking 'Let me take my time, I want to make sure this guy is ok'. I think he was right in what he did."

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Hearn agrees that Fury should have been given the benefit of the doubt after being hurt and was shocked that he was able to come out strong in the following round. "There's no standing eight count with the British Boxing Board of Control. It wasn't a standing eight count it was a knockdown because the ropes were holding him up and they clearly were as well," he added.

"There was a lot of time between him getting up and by the time that... well they didn't actually meet again because the bell went. I don't mind what Mark Nelson did. I don't think it was overly controversial, even though we have to ensure fighter safety, but at the same time he was one clean shot away from being knocked cold out."

Harry Davies