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.