WBC Pushes for Video Replays in Usyk vs. Fury II

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has strongly advocated for the use of video replays in the upcoming heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The first bout in May, which crowned Usyk as the undisputed world champion, underscored the need for such measures to ensure fairness in high-stakes fights.

During the lead-up to their initial clash in Riyadh, Sulaiman had already called for the introduction of video replays and additional ringside judges, aiming to minimize any potential errors in a bout that promised to be closely contested. His concerns proved valid when Usyk emerged victorious by a narrow split decision, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. While most experts agree that the decision was justified, Fury’s camp maintains that he should have won, highlighting the contentious nature of the bout.

A significant point of debate was the ninth round, where Usyk seemingly had Fury on the brink of a knockout. Despite appearing to be knocked out on his feet, Fury stumbled into a neutral corner and received a standing eight count, narrowly avoiding a stoppage. Proponents of video replay argue that it could have resolved this controversy in real-time.

The WBC has had video replay provisions since 2008, though their use has been infrequent due to resistance from boxing authorities like the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC). The BBBoC has consistently opposed live replays, arguing that they are not suitable for overturning a referee’s decision and could disrupt the flow of a fight by allowing fighters extra recovery time during review delays.

Despite these challenges, Sulaiman emphasized the importance of video replays during rules meetings for the first Usyk vs. Fury fight, insisting on their implementation for the WBC’s purposes. “We will be pushing for it in the rematch and every fight we are involved in,” he stated.

The first fight’s main event, while influenced by the BBBoC, was governed by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission, potentially paving the way for video replays in the December 21 rematch.

Sulaiman pointed to a precedent where video replay effectively corrected a controversial decision: the 2019 WBC flyweight world title fight between Charlie Edwards and Julio Cesar Martinez. In that fight, Martinez’s knockout victory was overturned to a no contest after replays showed he had landed an illegal blow while Edwards was on his knee.

In addition to pushing for video replays, Sulaiman revealed the WBC’s intention to advocate for six ringside judges for the rematch, further emphasizing their commitment to fair and accurate officiating in boxing.