‘Should have stopped it’

Cutman lashes Tszyu fight decision

Jeff Horn’s former cutman believes the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora bloodbath should have been stopped, describing the braveheart Australian’s gash as one of the worst he has seen in 46 years in boxing.

Steve Edwards is one of Australian boxing’s most experienced cutmen, having served in 13 world-title fights spanning six countries, including Horn’s famous victory over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.

Edwards, who has operated in more than 2000 bouts in his 10-year tenure as a specialist cutman, slammed American reports that the Tszyu camp lacked the ointments required to fix the “Soul Taker’s” gaping wound.

Edwards was the man who kept a bloodied Horn in the contest in his epic upset of Pacquiao with his handiwork and he said the Tszyu-Fundora blockbuster should never have gone to the scorecards.

A no-contest would have resulted in Tszyu retaining his WBO world title and likely triggered a rematch clause for a Fundora return bout in Australia.

“That fight should have been stopped and ruled a no-contest,” said Edwards, who will be George Kambosos’ cutman for his world-title bout against Vasiliy Lomachenko next month.

“I thought the referee and the doctor would have seen how bad the wound was and should have stopped the fight at the end of the third because of how much the blood was impeding Tim.

“That’s not for Tim’s corner to do, it was in the hands of the doctor.

“I was surprised they let the fight go on.

“Then it felt like they made a rod for their own back because from the fourth round there was going to be a result.

“It (Fundora’s elbow to Tszyu’s head) happened right at the end of the second round.

“I would understand them not stopping it then because it was starting to bleed and they weren’t sure how it would affect him. But the third round told you everything about how that cut was going to affect Tim’s ability to fight.

“It was clear in the third that Tim was struggling to see Fundora and judge distance.

“His first two rounds, he judged the distance to perfection, but that went out the window. Tim’s vision was extremely impaired. The fight should have been stopped.”

The Tszyu camp has copped brickbats for its handling of the cut. One American report said

Team Tszyu lacked the necessary substances to make running repairs to give Tszyu every chance to stave off Fundora. Edwards said Team Tszyu would learn lessons from one of the rare occasions in which the former world champion had been cut in a fight. “That was one of the worst I’ve seen,” said 46-year boxing veteran Edwards.

“I’m not going to be too harsh on Tszyu’s team ... but I think they will learn from that experience.”