Round 9 - Fury was out

I mean the pressure can pay off long term but not in rounds you’re getting your ticket punched

 

Why not calling time

 

Why did they waive the standing 8 count for the first fight - which I assumed they’ve done for the rematch also?

Seems to be a step backward from the safety options they’ve put in place over the years.

True that in a bigger fight the ref might allow that little bit more time for a fighter to ride out the storm, but without the standing 8 in his back pocket, it could actually see the ref putting a fighter in more danger than is necessary or warranted.

Anyway, as it was, Fury was 100% stopped for all intents and purposes and would’ve been KO’d if the ref hadn’t stepped in.

Hypothetically allowing the fight to play on in mind’s eye, Fury could well have straightened himself up shortly thereafter with Usyk hitting him without the ropes in support for a clean KO.

Fury does have recuperative powers but they may be exaggerated when one considers that he was allowed a FULL 23 seconds to recover after both the Wilder and Ngannou KDs.

The ref calling a tech KD in the Usyk fight also bought Fury a total of 18 seconds - and Fury still was not right but the round ended within a second of the ref’s protracted “checks”, robbing Usyk of time to follow up.

Then of course, the ref was kind enough to lead Fury part way back to his corner…….wow.

 

Usyk was not playing tonight. He was looking for the stoppage IMO.