Heavyweight Boxing

Rico has filed an appeal on the way to the airport

getting marks on the face is part and parcel of combat sport

RICO spoke about the game plan worked on by Peter and another coach, I often wonder how Tyson would have turned out under his uncle for longer

Family disputes are a disaster and usually involve money

They need to get rid of these incredibly cringe/awkward in-ring face offs after flights.

Agit being made to stand around like a third wheel was ridiculous. And some bloke just appearing with a ring belt, taking the mic and starts claiming what should happen next for Usyk before Turkin corrected him. All very amateur for a sport which has so much money behind it.

agreed

another bull narrative that I think needs to be put to bed is this automatic assuming that Usyk didn’t prepare and was very poor etc.

He absolutely did prepare. That was a seriously gruelling fight against an absolute heavy handed awkward lump, and Usyk still rallied to close the show…

Rico wasn’t the prettiest, but he was very fit and busy and strong..

I saw no issues with Usyk’s speed, feet, stamina to tell me he didn’t prepare.

He threw more punches in 11 rds last night than he did in 12 rds against Fury

It was the unknown, added to Rico’s size, weight, movement, fitness, concentration, awkwardness that made it a very tough night for Usyk. Credit here fully to Rico.

yes, but because that’s what he chose…

he was not winning the fight by a mile.. official judges had it pretty much even after 10. Armchair judges, like me and you don’t count.

all fair points. Just on Fury v Wilder. Fury got up and actually put it on Wilder to finish rd 11 stronger. Fury also looked far fresher and in control. It is not a certainty that Usyk finishes Rico in rd 12, but very possible I think. Anyway, would not have mattered because after 11 completed rds it was Rico who needed a massive rd 12 to avoid defeat.

Peter fury said after the fight that one thing that let Rico down was lack of experience so he wasn’t taking breathers in the clinch etc and he was drained

Fury spent 6 seconds on his back staring at the ceiling motionless after Wilder kod him, only moved at the count of six, you'd be hard pressed to find a ref who wouldn't have stopped that fight there, Fury was blessed.

Then Wardley was left become a human pinata, could barely stand up, allowed to take punishment round after round on the hope he may be able to land the right, which was all but useless anyway.

Usyk was left batter Fury fury from pillar to post in rounb 9, nothing but the ropes holding him up, he was out on his feet.

Rico was in it way more than any of these, he's have had the break too considering the round was essentially over, he too is known for his recovery and there was only one round left, ref was too keen.

him speaking lucidly 10 minutes after the referee stoppage has nothing to do with the referee’s split second call. He calls it there and then. Boxers don’t have to be out of it 10 mins later, and incapable of lucidity for a stoppage to be correct. And no rule automatically stopping the interviewing of a stopped fighter. They usually get checked over in ring and cleared or not cleared to hang about.

Boxing history is littered with stoppage call debates; and why was that stopped and why was this not stopped etc. It’s not an exact science. I think Stuffins said it best. Wasn’t a bad stoppage, but wasn’t particularly good either. I’d lean with it being good/ok, but would have no way said it had to be stopped.

I love Usyk, but was actually wanting Rico to finish the fight and get the nod on the cards. Just for the sheer madness of it all.

Really was a mad fight. Really entertaining and really exciting.

an option? Do you mean opinion?

You said Rico was winning by a mile. He absolutely was not. On the official cards after 10 rds it was very very close! If you said “on my card, or in my opinion,” that’s another thing. You didn’t say this.

yes, we can all have cards/opinions, but they don’t count as to the actual officialdom of it all. That’s all I said. Nothing ridiculous whatsoever

Yes. I agree. But here’s the thing. It’s impossible to say in certain circumstances what is a correct stoppage and what is not. It has never been an exact science.

I’ve watched few videos now. Ya know, referee jumped in after 4-5 seconds after action resumed. Not straight away. He let Rico try survive.

And also, just because you fire back, doesn’t mean you are not in bad shape and extremely vulnerable. Rico was really weakly firing back a couple a shots, but with no real coolness, and he was clearly wobbling whilst doing this. And was a sitting duck.

We’re sitting on armchairs here yelling about bad stoppages; the referees are up so so close almost feeling the shots and the danger. It’s why I’m never quick to criticise the referees, who have a duty of care to the fighters.

And it’s a disgrace that the likes a Turki can openly slate and criticise professional referees that are doing an extremely responsible job, and him there slating their decisions. He’s doing nothing but damaging the reputation and integrity of the sport. No other sport would tolerate this