Boxer to boycott No Limit as fuming manager vows to appeal ‘disgrace’
Ben Mahoney says he will never fight on a No Limit Boxing card again, and his manager is planning to lodge an official complaint over Wednesday night’s incendiary split decision draw on the Gold Coast.
Chaos erupted after Mahoney drew with Nikita Tszyu in what was one of the best fights on Aussie soil this year.
Ben Mahoney speaks to reporters after the fight. Instagram
Boos rang out after the scorecards were revealed, before No Limit boss George Rose threatened to “slap the shit” out of fans voicing their anger over the result.
One ringside judge awarded the fight 115-113 to Mahoney, one judge scored it a 114-114 draw, but judge Phil Holiday claimed Tszyu took the bout 117-111 in what commentator Peter Badel labelled a “disgrace”.
It was the Holiday card that shocked pundits and caused a near-riot inside the stadium, leading to Rose being escorted out of the arena by security after giving critics both barrels during a fiery in-ring interview.
It is the second time Mahoney has fought on a No Limit card and the second time he has drawn. He says he won’t be signing another deal to fight on an event run by the promoters.
“I’m happy for a rematch. I should be fighting for a world title now, we all know this,” he said in his post-fight press conference.
“I’m open to it, but it’s sure as hell not going to be on another No Limit card.”
His manager Mick Francis went one step further and declared he will lodge an official protest over the Holiday scorecard.
“Phil Holliday, I don’t know what he was watching, those scores were way wide,” Francis said.
“I’m going to make an official enquiry about it because it’s not right. To have a score so wide, mate, I don’t know what he was watching. He hasn’t heard the end of it.
“You’ve got two other judges in there as well, they didn’t see it that wide. One judge gave it to Benny, one gave it a draw.
“I think it deserves a rematch, I thought it was a great fight.”
Nikita Tszyu punches Ben Mahoney. Chris Hyde
The winner of the fight would have put themselves in the box seat to fight for a world title.
Tszyu was bloodied above his right eye early after clashing heads with Mahoney, but maintained his composure and went the distance in an epic IBF super welterweight eliminator.
Both men traded blows throughout the entire 12 rounds in what commentator Ben Damon described as an “all-action brawl” on Main Event.
But what happened next had everyone completely stunned and the Gold Coast crowd, who were firmly behind Mahoney, up in arms.
Tszyu admitted that he felt Mahoney did enough to win and deserved the nod from the judges.
“I gave the fight to Ben honestly, he was one hell of a tough fight and I knew it was gonna be like that,” he said.
“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.”
Ben Mahoney reacts to a split decision draw against Nikita Tszyu. Getty Images
When asked if he would be open to a rematch, Tszyu left the door ajar.
“Possibly, we’ll do it again. I don’t know, it’s not my decision,” he said.
Mahoney, while respectful of Tszyu’s resilience, was firm in his belief that he deserved the victory – but stopped short of blowing the situation up.
“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,” the tough Queenslander said.
“I think I took that fight, but all respect to Nikita, he’s a f---ing warrior. He was there the whole time, he’s so tough. It’s a privilege to be on this platform.”
The result drew frustration from the crowd and their attention quickly turned to No Limit boss Rose once he took over the microphone.
Rose then lost his cool and fired back at those in the crowd, or to anyone who was being “cheeky” around the ringside area regarding the outcome.
Nikita Tszyu punches Ben Mahoney. Chris Hyde
“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--- 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--- it.”
Mahoney, in an attempt to defuse the situation, had the final say.
“There’s no need for hostility, we both have our peace,” he said.
“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.”
The cameras then panned to Rose being ushered away from the ring and towards the backstage area at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
While the result was seen as a fair outcome from world champion Liam Paro on the broadcast panel, Aussie legend Danny Green – who sat on commentary for the entire 12 rounds – was of the belief Tszyu had done enough to win.
The draw is the first real blemish on Tszyu’s professional record after previously going undefeated through his 13 bouts. Mahoney is also undefeated, having jumped to boxing from muay thai.
Tszyu also had a no contest against Michael Zerafa earlier this year.
