‘One of the worst decisions I’ve seen’
WHAT THE COUSIN THOUGHT:
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been accused of a foul-mouthed rant after Joseph Parker beat his cousin to retain his world title.
Parker’s majority decision over Hughie Fury in Manchester on Sunday sparked an angry reaction from the Fury camp with Hughie Fury’s manager, Mick Hennessy, claiming he intended to appeal, alleging the decision was ‘‘corruption at the highest level in boxing’’.
The Daily Express newspaper reported Tyson Fury jumped over the ropes expecting the decision and the WBO heavyweight title - to go to his cousin.
He was seen to shake hands with members of the Parker camp, including head trainer Kevin Barry, but his reaction changed after the judges’ call went in champion Parker’s favour.
The Express said Tyson Fury screamed: ‘‘He’s a p .... ,’’ and claimed the 29-year-old, who won his world title in 2015, had ‘‘apparently pointed in Parker’s direction.
‘‘That’s what boxing is now. It’s s...’’
Hennessy told BBC Radio 5’s Live Sport channel that he was considering appealing the decision.
‘‘I thought it was an absolute masterclass. Shades of [Muhammad] Ali. Parker wasn’t even in the fight. One of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen.’’
The Guardian newspaper reported that Hughie Fury said in the ring that he ‘‘thought I’d done enough to win, but I’m not a judge’’.
Kevin Mitchell, The Guardian’s experienced boxing writer, said: ‘‘His more volatile cousin, Tyson, who once owned this title, remonstrated loudly with any official he could find – probably as much with the margin of the two scores in favour of the visitor. He had good reason.’’
Two judges scored the fight, 118-110 in Parker’s favour with the third judge opting for a 114-114 draw.