Not true. Years from now, people will look at fighters' resume and think "That was just a split decision win for Usyk, not such a great win", although they won't know Usyk was robbed of a knock out victory.
I'm also an Usyk fan. Had the roles been reversed my opinion would not change. Fury was falling and got caught on the ropes. It was correctly ruled a KD. End of. Also just because (in your opinion) the referee missed the right call the first time, doesn't mean he is forbidden from making the right call later in the round. That's absurd.
Fight should have been stopped. I don’t think I've ever seen a fight were a fighter was knocked into the ropes 3 times in the same round, during the same assault and the fight not stopped.
But Fury didn't get knocked, out, he didn't suffer serious injury. This minority shouting for a ref stopping a fight where the fight finished with both guys on their feet is just insane to me.
Well the right man won regardless This would be much more of a debate had Fury won The good news for us that enjoyed the fight, they do it again very soon I enjoyed the fight and I look forward to the rematch
I see it as it is at the referees discretion. Some may have stopped it and other's may not. I think all true fans just hope for a fair referee who treats both respected opponents equally
That fight didn't end with them both on their feet. It was stopped early and it was stopped because the ref felt Groves was in danger of serious injury. Usyk v Fury finished without either fighter suffering serious injury or getting knocked out.
I've given the ref some **** but in all fairness Usyk said he did a good job, and that is good enough for me.
You did change horses. See standing 8 count and a fighter at risk vs a technical KD - which had to be explained to you. I've already highlighted the supporting evidence otherwise. No need to repeat myself. Fury's health would've also been protected (and more so) had the fight been correctly stopped in the 9th round. Due stoppages are also intended to protect fighters. Yes, after 12 rounds, we did get to hear Fury blame the decision (which was also incorrectly close) on the Ukraine war and wish one and all a Happy New Year at the end of the fight. Wonderful. How are you going with the highlighting of the ref obstructing Usyk multiple times during the round and then, later, assisting Fury part way back to his corner after the finish of the round? You don't want to touch those points? Okay.... As to "going slowly". Don't try to be cute unless you can take same back in kind without baulking and crying. Been there, seen that, many times before here. Basically, don't turn up the heat in the kitchen if you yourself can't stand the temperature that you set in the first place.
The scenario of being supported by the ropes most certainly did happen before. The referee in the Ali - Wepner fight "dictated" that a KD was scored after Wepner stepped on Ali's foot and then knocked over an off-balance Ali with an otherwise innocuous body punch. Based on your unrealistically rigid adherence to a ref's discretionary powers, I have to assume you accept that KD without qualm or opining otherwise. Also note that you've highlighted an inconsistency in the ref's approach as many others have done (even those defending the ref's ultimate ruling of a KD). Based on the very same criteria, the ref could've ruled a technical KD several times prior during the round. Here's a thought which I have illustrated multiple times previously - that the ref did his utmost to avoid ruling a KD (and therefore imposing a default 10-8 round against Fury) until Fury was at risk of getting knocked out altogether. A double favor to Fury with an 11th hour shift in priority. The consistency of the ref's actions, or lack thereof, is a major point here and it is something that has been often ignored. I mean, those defending the ref won't touch the facts of his interfering and obstructing Uysk several times during the round - NOR the fact that the ref improperly assisted Fury part way back to his corner at round's end. Good referee?
Before in the fight, not before in history. Without Fury not doing it intentionally, Fury is only supported by the ropes once in the fight. That's the KD.