Boxing Promoter Hearn Defends Referee’s Call in Epic Usyk-Fury Heavyweight Clash

Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes that referee Mark Nelson made the right decision by not stopping the highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury last Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Usyk, the 37-year-old Ukrainian, made history by clinching a split-decision victory over the previously undefeated Fury, 35, in a grueling battle that saw the champion nearly secure a stoppage in the ninth round. Fury has since exercised his right to an immediate rematch.

Hearn, who promoted several other fighters on the card, including Jai Opetaia and Joe Cordina, was present ringside for the heavyweight showdown.

“I think there are a lot of British referees on British soil that would’ve stopped that fight,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “He [Fury] literally covered every millimeter of that ring, staggering. I don’t mind Mark Nelson’s play right there. I do feel like he gave a lot of time to Tyson Fury. Not just in a count, but particularly afterward.”

The promoter acknowledged that Nelson had to make a quick decision in a high-stakes, undisputed fight and that his actions have been heavily scrutinized since. Hearn believes that the magnitude of the event warranted the referee to give the fighters the benefit of the doubt, rather than treating it like a typical four- or six-round bout.

“I think [Nelson] was right in what he did,” said Hearn, who initially did not expect the fight to be a “legendary” encounter due to the stylistic matchup of the two skilled, mobile heavyweights. “I didn’t think the fight would be stylistically that good,” he admitted. “Both guys have great feet, great movement, and great ring IQ. When you combine those qualities in a big fight of that magnitude, sometimes it can be a bit cagey.”

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