Why do you think Usyk wasn't able to finish Fury when after he was rocked by that magnificent right-left with Furys nose that spilt blood copiously he started to stagger? Yet he had two possibilities: A) close the distance and bomb him with combinations like Holyfield did with Tyson. B).stop Fury's dance by pushing him into a corner and finish him like Fury did with Wilder in the 2nd bout.
image_7770a7.png (1024×576) (thesun.co.uk) Because when Usyk was in position to go for the kill shot the referee wouldn't let Usyk finish him. Yes, Usyk was about to hospitalize Fury, but that is boxing. If Fury and ref didn't want to see a brutal finish then they should find another sport. This isn't ice skating. Let Usyk decapitate him.
Okay, he was about to finish him if the ref didnt stop him... but the question is: why didnt he manage to finish Fury before?
Who cares when he finishes him? A stoppage in round 9 is the same as a stoppage in round 1. It's a stoppage.
I also think he was a stoppage, but imo he could already finish him when Fury started to move from one side to anorher of the ring but he couldnt.
I reckon a fighter like Fury has to be finished as soon as possible because his recoveries are very good and he could remain dangerous for the rest of the fight. Fighters like Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe, Foreman, Mercer, Tua would have finish him soon after they noticed Furys guard was completely down.
By happenstance, Fury’s teetering, tottering and careering around the ring bought him some time. See round 11 of the FOTC for something very much similar. Frazier obviously knew how to finish his man but Ali’s unsteady legs actually equated to a form of evasion - albeit not consciously intended. So, with Fury stumbling all over the place, Usyk then had to give chase. The ref also blatantly obstructed Usyk TWICE during his assault and attempts to seal the deal..and of course when Usyk was 1-2 punches away from doing same...the ref came to the rescue again..and much more significantly so... For all intents and purposes - I accept that Usyk did finish Fury - refs obstructions notwithstanding. Tyson was totally ****ed up.
Who cares if he gets the finish or not, the important thing in boxing is to win, and that's what usyk does.
The ref stepped in so we really don't know what would of happened. But fact is he hurt Fury and kept hurting him repeatedly, he literally punched him across the ring into a corner, then punched him across the ring again to another corner, then punched him across the ring for the 3rd time back to the original corner and Fury was unable to defend himself, there was no point where it looked like Fury was clearing his head or looked like he was fighting back he was just taking a beating. Fact is nobody has done that to Fury and the ref saved Fury from taking more punishment. Maybe Fury would have been dropped, then maybe he would of gotten up and been fine after an 8 count but we don't know we were denied that by the silly standing 8 count rule.
Because Fury is tough as nails and Usyk was respectful to that toughness which mean't the somewhat delayed and was cautious with his onslaught. Fury did still have some senses when he first hit the ropes with his high guard. You can see him trying to roll the shots but his body just isn't responding. In the final seconds where the ropes held him up though he was totally done, his body was wilted and he couldn't even keep his head up....but 30 seconds later back and ready. Both really tired at this stage also.
Where did the ref under the rules of boxing protect Fury from taking any punishment? Not at all. The whole sequence of events was legit and fine. Fury taking very long at the end of his count to show the ref he could continue was a bit naff but it was the end of the round anyway. The count was fine people cried about that but the ref picked up the ringside count at 4 and it was not slow at all. Some desperate people like the claim he got in the way....only because he got near at one point which he needs to be if he needs to stop it. With Fury going all over the ring impossible to predict where. This content is protected You can see Fury still trying to slip shots up till the final left hook which pushed him into the corner post where the ref made the right call. People need to commend Usyk also...he could have probably got a shot off when Fury was held up by the ropes but he didn't Ali Foreman style.
Because if you watch closely the paid up referee gets in Usyk way TWICE, and Usyk has to shove him away twice. He save Fury some precious seconds, and then saved him by giving him a count, instead of WAVING the fight, and then give him a HUGE 20 seconds count. Hell they stopped counting at 3, for 3 seconds, and then proceed with super slow 5, 6, stopped at 6, waited quite a lot, super slow 7 and super slow 8, and then instead of waving he gave Fury all the time in the world. You are supposed to be ready to go by the end of 8, not 10+ seconds after it. If you are not in condition to go before the count 8, you should be waved, simple as that. Against Wilder 1 for example, he was ready to go when he gets up, so the refs allows him. But at the count 8 referee waited a million year. You can literally allows almost everyone to continue like that, super slow count, and then give them all the time to recover, even if they are not in condition.
