Legends fume at KO punch after the bell, Aussie dudded in Vegas
Updated . First published
Controversy erupted twice on the same boxing card in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT) as an Aussie was dudded by judges, before a stunning knockout punch that landed after the final bell of the main event.
Towering southpaw Sebastian Fundora, who famously ended Tim Tszyu’s unbeaten streak in a 2024 bloodbath, defended his WBC super welterweight belt by beating Ermal Hadribeaj.
WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora knocks out Ermal Hadribeaj after the bell. Getty Images
The 198-centimetre American was easily on top of his opponent and looked certain to win the fight on the scorecards, before one final left hook to the jaw of Hadribeaj knocked the Albanian to the canvas.
While Fundora’s punch landed after the final bell had sounded, it was deemed legal given he started his punching motion before the bell.
But a couple of boxing greats were left fuming when referee Thomas Taylor decided to rule a knockout, meaning Fundora won via KO rather than the fight officially going the distance.
The decision made the scorecards null and void, and handed Fundora the 17th knockout win of his career.
“I didn’t agree with the stoppage at all, the bell rung before the punch landed,” fight icon Terence Crawford said on DAZN.
“The man (Hadribeaj) got up, he deserved to go to the final bell.”
Former world champion Tim Bradley was also critical of the referee’s decision, given Hadribeaj was conscious and got to his feet inside the eight-count.
“That’s all you have to do, is get up on your feet, that’s it, you have to get on your feet, the fight ended (by the bell),” Bradley said.
“I love (the fight’s referee) Thomas Taylor. He’s one of the best in the business. But just like a fighter, just like a coach can have an off night, I feel like he had an off night tonight.”
There was controversy earlier in the night when Aussie fighter Koen Mazoudier lost his Las Vegas debut to Armando Reséndiz.
Mazoudier, who was meant to fight Jermall Charlo before the latter was forced to withdraw, took the former world champion the distance but ultimately lost via judges’ scorecards.
Aussie boxer Koen Mazoudier (right) lands a punch on Armando Resendiz. Getty Images
The judges awarded a unanimous victory to Reséndiz 98-92, 97-93, 97-93, but there was a feeling the Sydney boxer performed better than the cards suggested.
“I think the official scores should have been closer but congrats to Reséndiz and major props to Mazoudier,” The Ring editor Doug Fischer posted on X.
“What a furious finish from the late sub Toro, and what a tough, gritty cat this Aussie is. Terrific fight.”
Mazoudier, 31, moved up two weight divisions to fight Reséndiz and now hopes to fight in front of American audiences again.
“There were a lot of close rounds,” Mazoudier said.
“I didn’t win the rounds clearly enough. He was the better fighter tonight.”
