Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney fought to a majority draw in a fiercely contested bout on Wednesday, a result that has derailed Tszyu's immediate world title ambitions, according to Nine.com.au. The fight, described by the outlet as an "all-action brawl," ended in a shock split decision that left the crowd and the fighters' camps divided.
The draw was immediately met with anger from Tszyu's promoter, who reportedly labelled one scorecard "disgraceful" in a post-fight blow-up, per Nine.com.au. The Canberra Times also highlighted the judging drama, noting that the two fighters could not be separated on the official cards. The contentious nature of the result has overshadowed what was otherwise a thrilling contest.
According to Fox Sports, the hometown star addressed the fuming local crowd directly, telling them to "run it back" and acknowledging the result as a "rightful draw" while calling for an immediate rematch. The sentiment was echoed by fans and pundits alike, with the close nature of the fight leaving little doubt that a second meeting is the logical next step.
The draw is a significant setback for Tszyu, who was reportedly eyeing a world title shot in the near future. The result leaves his record unblemished but stalls his momentum in a competitive division. For Mahoney, the draw represents a career-best performance and a strong case for a return bout on a bigger stage.
With the controversy still simmering, all eyes now turn to the promoters and matchmakers to see if they can agree on terms for a rematch. Given the backlash over the scorecards and the demand from the arena, a second fight between Tszyu and Mahoney appears to be the only sensible resolution.
