Usyk Denied Knockout, Parker For President, Project Mbappe, and Golf Betting.
Usyk vs. Fury Controversy, Candace Parker's becomes Adidas Women’s Basketball President, PSGs Mbappe Project failure, and the business Golf Betting for Majors.
Oleksandr Usyk Denied Knockout: Controversial Decision Sparks Debate
Oleksandr Usyk was denied a potential knockout against Tyson Fury in the ninth round of their heavyweight title fight, according to David Haye, and I agree.
The pivotal moment occurred after Usyk had gained momentum, delivering a powerful left hand that left Fury reeling. Despite this, Fury managed to stay upright while Usyk pursued, attempting to land a finishing blow.
Referee Mark Nelson intervened, ruling a knockdown with Fury against the ropes and giving him a standing count. Haye and Usyk's manager, Krassyuk, disagreed with the referee’s decision, believing Fury was unable to defend himself properly.
Haye told TNT Sports:
"If Fury was doing that to Usyk it would have been stopped. The referee stopped him and his opportunity. Then gave him 20 seconds to completely recover. It looked really bad from ringside. Even Fury fans said, 'thanks ref.'"
Following Usyk's split decision victory over Fury, Krassyuk also voiced his concerns, stating:
"No disrespect to the referee but I think he stopped a KO in the ninth but anyway it was a tremendous performance. It was unbelievable and I hope to see more in the rematch."
Fury managed to survive the round and recover between rounds, continuing to fight until the end. After the bout, Fury oddly claimed that the judges favoured Usyk because of the war in Ukraine which just came across as insensitive and like a sore loser.
Being an Englishman myself, I was of course rooting for Fury but at the end of the day, Usyk should have been allowed to finish the job himself in the 9th or the referee should have stopped the fight. I’m glad the decision went in the right direction.
Fury has since been claiming that he should have won, and there is an argument if it was scored without including his get-out-of-jail-free card, but it happened, so he should accept the defeat and move on to setting up the rematch.
It was a good close fight, what boxing fans had hoped for. The rematch, which is likely to happen later this year offers Usyk another opportunity to secure the knockout he might have missed or for Fury to redeem himself.
Adidas Appoints Candace Parker President of Women's Basketball
Adidas recently announced that Candace Parker, the legendary figure in women's basketball, has been named the first President of Adidas Women’s Basketball.
In Brandstrat, I take a look at the thinking and strategy behind this great new move for Adidas.
Project Mbappe & PSGs European Headache
Kylian Mbappe’s departure from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) marks the end of a chapter filled with triumphs and questions. During his seven years at the club, Mbappe's journey has been characterized by an intriguing blend of individual brilliance and collective aspirations, leaving behind a legacy that is as complex as it is impactful.
While the club saw success on the domestic front, with multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cup triumphs, it’s the club’s failure to conquer the UEFA Champions League that defines the narrative.
Here’s my article on Mbappe’s time in the French capital.
The Business of Golf Betting
Golf has undergone a metamorphosis in recent years, emerging as a solid proposition for sports betting enthusiasts beyond golf fans. As the world's top golfers battle it out at the PGA Championship, I thought I’d take a look at the golf betting business.
I hope you find the topics interesting and if there’s anything you’d like me to research and write about, please feel free to drop some ideas in the comments.
Thanks for reading, David Skilling.
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