Adam Smith reflects on 'that' decision and wonders whether it's time to change the judging set-up.
Do we need judges at every fight, wonders Adam?
The boxing week has of course been dominated by the tragic death of the prestigious young Olympian Darren Sutherland, whose passing at the tender age of 27, has shocked the sport.
I am sure there will be the traditional 10 bells at the home of British boxing, York Hall, on Friday - and our hearts go out to his close-knit family.We also wish our friend Frank Maloney a quick recovery. The whole episode is just devastating.
I last saw Darren on Friday at the Brentwood Leisure Centre - the Essex location for our second Friday Fight Night of the season - following the bloody, brutal encounter between John Simpson and Paul Truscott.
The place was absolutely packed out for the eagerly-awaited English heavyweight title fight between Horndon's seasoned John McDermott and Manchester's young hope Tyson Fury.
There was pre-fight tension and a marvellous atmosphere. Many boxers - young and old - were spotted at ringside. From David Haye to Jason Rowland to Johnny Armour; Tony Jeffries to Brian Rose to Derek Chisora. It is always the sign of a really interesting trade match when other fighters want to be there.
Fury was a huge favourite to take his biggest scalp yet. Despite having only had seven professional fights (all early KO's), many felt he would still brush aside the English champion John McDermott, who had won 25 of 30, but had been beaten in most of his meaningful fights.
Countless
Fury had rattled McDermott in the build-up, calling him 'McMuffin', 'McDonut' and 'Big Mac'! Big John promised that he would take out his anger on Fury, and he was true to his word. Fury danced his way into the ring; McDermott entered with a serious look on his face.
McDermott forced the pace, applying pressure on Fury from the opening bell, and he never allowed the massive youngster to get into a rhythm. Fury couldn't find the room to get his quick, long arms moving...he was beaten to the jab, and caught with countless right hands.
Basically the difference between the fighters lay mainly in terms of experience and knowledge. On paper beforehand, the timing looked right for Fury. In reality it was spot on for McDermott.
At ringside, most of us felt the Essex heavyweight won the majority of the hard-fought and thoroughly entertaining rounds. Some were close, and Fury did show plenty of heart and grit to come back well late on - particularly as he hadn't gone more than 4 rounds before. It was a major jump.
A great battle developed, but in my eyes there was only one deserving winner. John McDermott.
I have never raved about McDermott, but I thought he beat Danny Williams in their first fight, and I definitely felt he deserved the decision against Tyson Fury. I scored it to McDermott by 2 rounds, and so did Jim Watt - but by an entirely different route - which shows that some of the sessions were a matter of opinion, and basically which boxer's work appealed more.
Astonished
I didn't agree with referee Terry O'Connor's decision to award the fight to Fury but while I, of course, accept that this is a subjective business, I was then absolutely astonished to hear the scores - 98-92 to Fury! Only two rounds to McDermott. No way. Jim Watt thought that Terry had got the names muddled up.
I felt so sorry for McDermott. Now I am not his promoter, and it is not my job to lobby his cause. Frank Maloney has done plenty of that. He has also highlighted the fact that Terry O'Connor was knocked out by John's father Stan many years ago. I noticed too that Terry has not refereed a victory for McDermott, but I think both of these facts are irrelevant. Terry is a nice guy, a professional, and I'm sure he scored it as he personally saw it. Right or wrong.
Jim and I call fights as we see them; we are also not necessarily right. Most people who were there seemed to be in agreement that McDermott won the fight - whatever the margin. The referee scores for what he likes - his favoured style - yet in my opinion, the referee is also far too busy with his own job, especially with heavyweights, who need a great deal of breaking.
It can be very very draining. It's not fair asking the referee to score long encounters too. Plus, I don't think they get as good an overall viewing perspective as the judges do. I remember when John Simpson was robbed in Hereford in a British title fight against Dazzo Williams. The referee was the sole scorer.
At least the Board decided to appoint three scoring judges for every British title match. This has been so much better. Once in a while, one still gets controversy. The three European judges got the first Damaen Kelly-Simone Maludrottu fight badly wrong. But it's a rarity, and we now have a far better system.
I think what comes out of this is the need for three judges at every title fight - Area, English etc. There are almost always enough officials at each show. Or we could go further and get in line with the American system, all fights have three judges. The referee never scores.
Scoring is always going to be a matter of opinion. But this may help prevent an outcry like last week, which in many ways tarnished a terrific fight.
I certainly think that Tyson Fury and John McDermott should meet again. How about having three judges in place for the English heavyweight re-match? What do you think? How did you score the McDermott-Fury battle? Are three judges for most fights the answer?
This week, Jim and I miss Friday Fight Night because we are in America for the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez clash, but there's a decent British light-welterweight re-match back home between Barry Morrison and Lenny Daws.
This was a good affair the first time around, with Morrison ripping the title from Daws. Now they meet again for the 10 stone crown, after Ajose Olusegun vacated.
Both have had their inconsistencies since, and despite styles often making fights, and re-matches usually going the same way, I think Daws may just rise to the occasion this time to exact revenge. It will surely be an honest, hard-fought encounter.
Is it time to follow America's lead and appoint three judges for EVERY fight? Join in the debate by filling in the feedback form below...
