The heavyweight showdown between veteran sluggers Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder may have been a feral, fan-friendly, firefight but it was not without controversy, and prominent people in the sport are aghast at various incidents that puts British refereeing under the spotlight.
Mark Bates was the third man in the ring and faced criticism over his decision-making from the opening bell.
“I’m fighting Derek and the referee,” Wilder told reporters at the post-event press conference.
The flashpoints included a member of Chisroa’s team entering the ring in the first round, which thus risked disqualification. At another moment, a team member appeared to help him up after he’d been knocked through the ropes.
“There were so many things went on,” the American puncher added. “I got hit in the back of the head like 10, 12 times. But when I retaliate he wants to point the finger at me. I might not even go to sleep tonight because of the feeling of getting hit in the back of my head.”
“The referee allowed so many things to happen that shouldn’t have happened.”
Stakeholders in the sport seemingly agreed.
Stephen Espinoza, the former president of Showtime Sports who aired some of Wilder’s fights on the network, said there “should have already been a DQ” in the opening round after “Chisora’s corner man [ran] into the ring in the middle of the action.”
Espinoza later said that the reffing was “questionable to say the least,” adding that was another disqualification offense in the eight round when “Chisora’s corner [helped] him up off the ropes.”
“This is nuts,” he said. “Ref has zero control and has ignored multiple DQ-able offenses by Chisora’s corner.”
Promoter and former manager Jolene Mizzone also aired her grievances with the way in which the fight was officiated.
Leading sportscaster Al Bernstein blasted the refereeing and said if he were representing fighters he’d advise them against taking fights in Britain.
“Mark Bates added his name to the long list of British refs who have been outrageously biased to try and help British fighters win,” he said.
“Staggering to me that they are not even subtle in their efforts. Now, this does happen in other countries, including the US. But it is more epidemic in the UK.”
