Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk: Bob Arum dismisses six judges 'experiment' for undisputed title showdown

Tyson Fury's undisputed heavyweight title showdown with Oleksandr Usyk should stick to a three-man judging panel, according to promoter Bob Arum.

The fight of a generation - the first for all the marbles in boxing's glamour division for 25 years - will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 18.

Due to a spate of controversial points decisions in megafights, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has put forward the proposal of hiring six judges for the event, to potentially decrease the chance of one poor scorecard influencing the result.

Sulaiman told Boxing Scene recently: "Controversy like that in the Fury v Usyk fight will kill boxing. Fights, especially those at this highest level, deserve this and so I’m putting forward this proposal now to all sanctioning bodies, promoters and fighters."

The parties he referred to are the WBA, WBO and IBF, who oversee the other three major belts, as well as Queensberry, Top Rank and Usyk-17 Promotions, plus the two men stepping into the ring.

Though the outcome of that petition is yet to be revealed, Top Rank supremo Arum has now clearly stated his opposition to making such a drastic change without any prior trials in smaller contests.

The American said, via Boxing Scene: "You don't put in something like that for the first time dealing with a major fight from the standpoint of visibility and importance. Maybe six judges are better than three - I doubt that, but maybe.

"Nobody knows because it hasn't been done. But at least you experiment with that with fights that are not as prominent. With all due respect to my friend Mauricio – who's a really good guy, loves the sport of boxing and has done a great job with the WBC – I wouldn't do it for this fight.

"I wouldn't say that you don't experiment with it for another fight, [but] I don't believe the judging becomes better because you have six judges rather than three."

Fury and Usyk will finally share the ring after a troubled build-up, with a proposed late December 2023 date being nixed by the British superstar's awful display in a questionable points victory over novice Francis Ngannou.

The 'Gypsy King' then pulled out of a February 17 battle after sustaining a cut above his right eye in training, leading to an agreement for a $10 million penalty if either fighter doesn't make the rearranged May 18 meeting.

The Ukrainian will defend the Ring Magazine strap in addition to his unified WBA, WBO and IBF world titles, while Fury enters with the WBC version.

In addition, a new Undisputed belt has been commissioned by the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, as well as a one-off commemorative WBC belt featuring the colours of both nations, which was recently taken to be blessed by Pope Francis.

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