John McDermott's defeat to Tyson Fury was a travesty of historic proportions
The verdict of the referee, Terry O'Connor, after Friday's English heavyweight title fight was one of the worst ever witnessed
There was general astonishment when the referee awarded the fight to Tyson Fury, left, over John McDermott. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA
There are bad decisions in boxing and there are monumental errors - such as the diabolical verdict Terry O'Connor handed down to John McDermott in Brentwood on Friday night when Tyson Fury clearly got away with a robbery of the highway variety.
Fury, a bankable prospect, keeps his slate clean and will be marketed accordingly. It did him no good, though, to declare afterwards he thought he was a deserved winner - especially when his corner could be heard telling him before he went out for the final round that he was behind on points - and he needs to rein in the bravado.
Poor John, meanwhile, who was also on the wrong end against Danny Williams, contemplates life now as an s/o - selected opponent - when he should be moving ahead of Fury, at least at British level. His ringside declaration - "I'm a nice man. What did I do wrong?" - was one of the most moving post-fight statements I've ever heard from a boxer.
The boxing community has been outraged by the decision, which is saying something; I couldn't even say that Fury's fans agree with it.
The British Boxing Board of Control were discussing the controversy today. They will announce their findings tomorrow.
If they are in any way moved by the injustice, they will ban O'Connor for at least six months and order a rematch. I honestly cannot remember a worse decision in the sport. And that's saying something. People go on about how Joe Bugner was gifted a win over Henry Cooper in "Our 'Enery's" farewell fight in 1971, or how Lennox Lewis was robbed against Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden 10 years ago. Fury-McDermott was on an entirely different scale of wrongdoing.
O'Connor's scoring of 98-92 was not just wrong; it was out of kilter with all good judges, without exception, who saw the fight exactly the other way. To put Fury six points clear of McDermott in a 10-round contest in which the "winner" shipped roundhouse right hands all night long was, to put it kindly, an aberration.
Others viewed it more harshly. Frank Maloney, McDermott's promoter, suggested O'Connor looked at his fighter's corner and had flashbacks to 1977 - the night John's father, Stanley, knocked seven bells out of O'Connor at the Royal Albert Hall.
I'm not going there on that one. Most of our referees are former fighters, which is what qualifies them to do the job. I can't believe O'Connor was getting square with John's dad for a loss so long ago.
No, he just cocked it up. He read the fight poorly throughout, failing to see the steady if dull work McDermott was doing, and crediting Fury with points for eye-catching flurries.
The 1-6 favourite couldn't get going, and should have paid the price. He boxed in spurts against an unfashionable opponent who trained his backside off for a contest that meant everything to him. This wasn't just a fight for the English heavyweight title; it was for bragging rights between two proud members of the travelling community.
A rematch is obviously the next step - and Fury will not box as poorly again. But, if he doesn't work off that spare tyre, if he doesn't get serious about his trade, he will throw away a very promising career. And next time, you can bet on McDermott being even more determined to set things right.
