Where to now for Nikita after controversial draw
Murray Wenzel |
With a rematch considered unlikely Nikita Tszyu’s team are salvaging what they can in the aftermath of a controversial draw with countryman Ben Mahoney.
The winner on Wednesday was set to be offered a shot at Josh Kelly for the IBF’s super welterweight world title.
What happens next is up in the air after judges offered the full spectrum of opinion – 117-111 to Tszyu, 115-113 to Mahoney and 114-all – to declare a split draw after 12 torrid rounds on the Gold Coast.
Tszyu (12-0) entered ranked No.5 in the IBF and WBO and did the heavier punching but looked the more beaten man after the tough-as-nails Mahoney (17-0-1, seventh in the IBF standings) weathered the storm and finished well.
Both camps were adamant they’d won the fight and Mahoney made clear that he didn’t want a rematch on promoter No Limit Boxing’s card.
There are no rematch clauses in world title eliminators.
“Rematches, I’ve tried to do a few of them in the past. The stumbling block always happens,” No Limit co-founder Matt Rose said, taken aback by Mahoney’s position.
“It’s something we could talk about, but always difficult to make happen, given we both have paths we want to take.
“”Who would stage it then (if No Limit doesn’t)?
“Please don’t try to diminish what we do in the sport. The shows we put on are the best in the country.”
Mahoney, a humble former Muay Thai and kickboxing talent who has grinded in the shadows for his shot at pay-per-view star Tszyu and a world title chance, left the building confident his stocks had risen.
It’s the first big setback for Tszyu since leaving his career as an architect in 2022 and joining brother Tim and Hall of Fame father Kostya in the family business.
But Jennings, who has been in the corner of all three Tszyus over the last three decades, was cheery post-fight.
“When it went to a draw, at first I thought it was … a fair result but I knew he’d be rolling it over in his mind,” the manager said of Tszyu’s initial comments that he’d lost the fight.
“Don’t let it go there (to the judges). It’s the nature of the sport, but it’s nice to know his zero’s (no losses) still intact and we’ll reset.”
It was easily Tszyu’s biggest test yet and first 12-round battle as he weighs up international rivals and remains on the cusp of a world title chance.
“Part of me is very, very satisfied that we got 12 absolute killer rounds in,’ Jennings said.
“He’s going to come out of this so much better.
“We won’t walk away down in the dumps. It was an ‘are you all entertained’ fight.
“We’ll move on very proud of him … “the main event absolute boxing entertainment at its highest.
AAP