With new sorts of boxing comes new sorts of rules – it has been revealed that boxing video-assistant refereeing will be in place for Jake Paul’s fight against Tommy Fury.
The pair face off in Saudi Arabia at a catchweight of 185lb for a potential eight rounds. It’s a bout that will put an end to the long-running social media feud between the two young superstars that are better known for pursuits outside of the sport.
As the broadcast kicked off on BT Sport Box Office , commentator Darren Fletcher explained the rules for the fight, as well as the one due before it – Ilunga Makabu’s cruiserweight world title defence against Badou Jack.
“Scoring slightly different tonight for the two big fights – the co-main event for the cruiserweight world title and the eight- rounder at the end – open scoring.
So after the fourth and the eighth round in the cruiserweight world title [fight] the corners will be given the scores. After the fourth round in Tommy Fury against Jake Paul, the corners will be given the scores.
And don’t worry too much … There is VAR in operation tonight …
If there is a contentious moment, if the referee needs to see whether somebody’s knee was down, when a punch was landed et cetera, they will go to VAR. You can’t keep it away.”
Whilst VAR in boxing throws up some potentially baffling scenarios, the open scoring isn’t a first.
In fact, the WBC have been fans of it for a while, and it’s their belt on the line in the co-main as well as their rankings that Paul or Fury will enter in to with a victory.
Whether the corners need to hear the scores come the halfway stage is another story – both fighters are predicting a knockout happening before then.