Exclusive: WBO President rejects six judges for Fury vs Usyk

WBO President Paco Valcarcel has firmly rejected the proposal for six judges at the upcoming Fury vs. Usyk fight, indicating a clear stance against any changes to the current judging system. In an exclusive statement to World Boxing News, Valcarcel emphasized his belief that three competent judges are sufficient for the sport, dismissing the notion that adding more officials would enhance boxing’s integrity.

Valcarcel’s refusal to entertain the idea was resolute, stating unequivocally, “No, I will not agree,” when asked if he would support the proposal in a potential vote. This position directly opposes the suggestion put forth by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who advocated for six officials to oversee the heavyweight unification bout scheduled for May 18.

Sulaiman, in his recent WBC column, defended the proposal, highlighting the subjective nature of boxing judging and the complexities involved in scoring each round. He underscored the importance of judges’ training and certification in achieving consistency in scoring criteria, particularly emphasizing the significance of effective aggressiveness, knockdowns, and the quality of punches landed.

However, the likelihood of implementing the new scoring process hinges on the unanimous agreement of all four major sanctioning bodies, including the WBO. If the WBO remains opposed, the proposal is unlikely to pass, underscoring the necessity of consensus among boxing’s governing bodies for any substantial changes to be implemented.