Tszyu vs Mahoney RECAP: World title plans dashed in shock end to ‘all-action brawl’
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Full card and results
Here’s the full card and results for tonight’s card on the Gold Coast.
- Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Mahoney SPLIT DRAW (117-111, 113-115, 114-114
- Callum Peters def. Blake Wells via TKO (R8)
- Kirra Ruston def. Saundre Simmons via TKO (R1)
- Koen Mazoudier def. Sam Beck via MD (95-95, 97-93, 96-94)
- Brandon Grach def. Ike Pluto via SD (58-55, 56-57, 57-56)
- Max Reeves def. Oliver Firth via TKO (R8)
- Rahim Mundine def. Jae Larsen via UD (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)
- Vegas Larfield def. Jubert Buhat via UD (59-55 x3)
- Luke Williams vs Prem Rungtiwa (No contest - cut)
- Louise Creaven def. Thanchanok Phanan via TKO (R3)
Signing off!
Thanks for following our live coverage of Nikita Tszyu vs Ben Mahoney.
An incredible night of action on the Gold Coast ends in controversy, with a split decision draw leaving the fans unhappy.
George Rose fires up at crowd
An agitated George Rose has blown up in his post-fight interview as the Gold Coast crowd voice their displeasure with the result.
“I think Nikita talked down his performance, I think Ben was very confident ... I thought it was a rightful draw,” the No Limit promoter said.
“I’ll tell you what, I’ll keep my composure because I wanna slap the shit out of somebody if you keep going, it’s annoying the f--k out of me, it really is.
“I don’t like cheeky people, I haven’t got time for that ... anyone who wants to boo me can meet me out the front and we’ll sort it out. F--k it.”
Ben Mahoney reacts to a split decision draw against Nikita Tszyu. Getty Images
Mahoney tries to calm down the situation after Rose’s spray.
“There’s no need for hostility, we both have our peace,” he said.
“We’re athletes, we put our life on the line and get in the ring and punch the f--k out of each other.
“When decisions don’t go our way, we’re a little bit emotional, sorry.”
Tszyu’s blunt admission after draw
Tszyu believes he LOST the fight, despite the judges ended up with a draw.
“I gave the fight to Ben honestly, he was one hell of a tough fight and I knew it was gonna be like that,” a modest Tszyu said post-fight.
“I gave him maybe one or two rounds more, but I can’t be a judge at the moment ... it was a close fight, but I thought he edged it.
“Possibly, we’ll do it again. I don’t know, it’s not my decision.”
Mahoney also believes he edged the bout in the final rounds.
“I don’t wanna talk down on Nikita or his team, I do believe I won that fight, I thought I came home nice and strong,” he said.
“I think I took that fight, but all respect to Nikita, he’s a f-----g warrior. He was there the whole time, he’s so tough. It’s a privilege to be on this platform.
“It’s bittersweet ... it’s not that appealing to me [fighting him again], but we’ll see what the future holds.”
IT’S A DRAW!
The decision is in and it’s a SPLIT DRAW!
The judges scorecards were 117-111 for Tszyu, 115-113 for Mahoney and 114-114.
Nikita Tszyu punches Ben Mahoney. Getty Images
Tszyu and Mahoney go the distance
Tszyu and Mahoney go the full 12-round distance in the main event.
“An all-action brawl, a world title eliminator worthy of its position ... what a fight we’ve seen, two warriors,” Ben Damon said on Main Event.
After an early head clash bloodied Tszyu and left his eye swollen, he maintained his composure and went toe-to-toe with a very game Mahoney.
We’re heading to the judges scorecards for a decision.
Nikita Tszyu punches Ben Mahoney. Getty Images
One more round!
Mahoney scores with a nice counter right-hand, but Tszyu lands right after it.
The referee stops the fight momentarily after Mahoney’s glove strapping came undone in the 11th round, but it didn’t unnerve either man.
One round to go. Fantastic main event bout. Will there be a late twist?
Ben Mahoney punches Nikita Tszyu Getty Images
Championship rounds await
Tszyu has definitely landed the heavier shots the longer the fight goes, but Mahoney is staying active and chipping away.
Into the championship rounds we go!
‘Chess match’ continues after low blow
More high-pressure, high-quality boxing between Tszyu and Mahoney.
“They are both digging deep and they both really want this victory ... this is a chess match,” Danny Green said on Main Event commentary.
Tszyu winces in pain after copping a low shot from Mahoney and the ref steps in to call a timeout, giving the Queenslander a warning in the process.
After the short break, Tszyu comes out firing and swinging hard, but Mahoney goes with him and this is really as even as it gets.
End of the ninth round. Tszyu is probably ahead on the scorecards, but it wouldn’t be by much and Mahoney is still in this contest.
Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney. Chris Hyde
Tszyu, Mahoney in deep waters
Both men trade blows in a fiery exchange early in the seventh round.
Tszyu is mixing things up nicely, going from the head to the body and back again.
The eighth round kicks off with Mahoney copping a solid shot up top, but he fires back immediately and is going tit-for-tat with Tszyu.
The local boy really has an answer for almost everything Tszyu is throwing at him, with both men exchanging blows at the end of the eighth.
Quality main event unfolding here with four rounds remaining.
Nikita Tszyu in action against Ben Mahoney. Getty
Six down, six to go
We’ve reached the half-way point of this main event bout.
Mahoney with some more nice shots, including an uppercut, as the Queensland crowd begin to chant for their local fighter.
Tszyu, bloodied as he is, continues to press forward late in the sixth round.
“Neither of these guys are going anywhere at the moment,” Ben Damon said on Main Event commentary.
Mahoney’s corner are telling him to “go the body and stay disciplined” in between rounds and their fighter is looking fresh and composed at the moment.
