WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman wants instant video replay to be used in the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch. The WBC has instituted the use of instant replay to review controversial actions in boxing since 2008.
However, several sanctioning bodies and boxing authorities chose not to utilise it. Ahead of Usyk and Fury’s inaugural encounter on May 18, the WBC demanded video replay be implemented. After much deliberation, they were eventually permitted to review it during and after the contest although the other three major sanctioning bodies (IBF, WBA and WBO) chose not to use it.
If a decision had been overturned using video replay by the WBC then the IBF, WBA and WBO are unlikely to have accepted the ruling, which would have led to a messy situation. To avoid this from happening in their rematch on December 21, Sulaiman and the WBC are pushing for all of the organisations involved in the fight to recognise video replay.
“Video replay is a rule that the WBC has had for the last few years but it is a complicated situation with the British Boxing Board of Control as they do not accept its use,” Sulaiman told talkSPORT.com.
“However, during the rules meetings of the last fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, we demanded that the video replay be used for the WBC’s sake.
“We will be pushing for it in the Usyk-Fury rematch and every fight we are involved in…
“The Middle East Professional Boxing Commission was the local authority and the British Boxing Board of Control had a lot of influence over them so they were claiming not to have it.
“But in the end, the WBC made it clear that if there was absolute evidence of a major controversy then we would reserve the right to make our own decision using the big screen and correct the ruling.
Ringside footage captures stunning moment Tyson Fury hit the ropes and was dropped by Oleksandr Usyk before Usyk’s epic win over Fury
“For the WBC it was in place but not for the others. We want it to be recognised by everyone involved with proper protocol and a proper system.”
This isn’t the only change that the WBC wants to make for the Fury vs Usyk rematch. They are also keen on there being six judges rather than the usual three when the heavyweight titans run it back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sulaiman insists this will lessen the possibility of a controversial decision and campaigned for the adjustment before Fury and Usyk’s first fight to no avail.
The proposition was met with stark resistance from rival sanctioning bodies and organisers, meaning the traditional three judges took their places at ringside as Usyk picked up a split decision win.
