talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver has suggested that Tyson Fury’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk could be fought with the use of VAR.
The technology has been used in the Premier League since 2019 and has become a huge source of controversy amid numerous disputed decisions.
VAR could be used when Fury fights UsykCredit: AFP
VAR is yet to make an appearance in the world of boxing but recent years have seen various contentious decisions that could well have changed the outcomes of fights.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says boxing ‘must implement video replay technology’ and as a result, Oliver has hinted that it could be used ringside soon, with Fury vs Usyk a fight that could see its debut.
Speaking on White and Jordan, Oliver said: “I believe that they want to implement that in the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight.
“They’re talking about video replays etc., to help them come to the correct decision, like VAR. I think that we sometimes see illegal blows going, it causes cuts and what not and then the guy will win the fight.”
Jim White then alluded to when Daniel Dubois was adjudged to have hit Oleksandr Usyk with a low-blow during their fight in August.
It was a controversial call by referee Luis Pabon as Usyk was awarded time to recover and went on to win.
“That’s a great example,” said Oliver. “He wouldn’t have got the five minute break on the floor in between the rounds and Dubois lost his momentum then. Dubois was fired up, he was ready to go but that may have changed the fight.
“The referee has allowed the five-minute break, in the five-minute break then say, ‘Woah, that wasn’t a low-blow, get him on with it.’ They overrule it basically.”
Dubois’ ‘low-blow’ on Usyk was a cause for debate last yearCredit: DAZN
While boxing fans may be against the idea of VAR being introduced, Boxxer CEO Ben Shalom would welcome it’s arrival into the sport.
Shalom told talkSPORT: “I think for the big fights it makes a lot of sense. You have so many decisions at the moment that are being questioned all the time. It’s frustrating as a promoter as well because you’re usually the one that gets blamed.
“I welcome anything, it takes investment, it takes everyone getting on board with it.
“But when there’s such high stakes and when you’ve got fighters’ careers going one way or the other based on a decision at the end of the fight, you look at the other sports whether it’s tennis, whether it’s football, boxing is a huge sport now.
“It’s one of the biggest sports in the world, definitely in this country and the investment now needs to go in so that the fans can trust what’s going on, see what’s going on and we get to the decision. I think it will add some more excitement as well.”
Fury and Usyk will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world on the postponed date of May 18 after the former suffered a serious cut in sparring.
