Dereck Chisora hails rugby’s TMO technology and says it should be used in boxing after Daniel Dubois’ controversy… as he credits the South Africa side for ‘uniting a whole nation’ ahead of the World Cup
Dereck Chisora welcomes rugby’s TMO technology and says it should be used in boxing after Daniel Dubois controversy… while crediting South Africa side for ‘uniting an entire nation’ ahead at the World Cup
Boxing star Dereck Chisora has praised rugby’s TMO (Television Match Official) technology for making the sport ‘more interesting’ ahead of the World Cup – and wants boxing to use video referees following the controversy in Daniel Dubois’ defeat to Olesksandr Usyk.
The heavyweight star – who grew up playing rugby as a child in his home country of Zimbabwe – gave his views on the sport ahead of Friday’s tournament opener between France and New Zealand, before England play Argentina in their first group match on Saturday.
Chisora said rugby was a more enjoyable sport thanks to TMO and thinks it is necessary in boxing to avoid more controversial decisions after Dubois felt insulted after sending Usyk to the canvas last month with a body shot that sounded like a low blow Was considered.
Chisora, who appeared in episode one of Mail Sport Croqued Monsieurs: an alternative World Cup diary, said: ‘You know what I like most about the game (rugby) now it’s (TMO). They stop and start and even make the game more interesting. The referee does not take sides.
‘Even when the game is going on, you can hear the referee saying, “Number 34, let him go.” The referee talks to the players. “Don’t, do that, I’m going down, don’t do that.”
Boxing star Dereck Chisora has praised TMO in rugby and wants to see the technology used in his own sport
Chisora believes that TMO makes rugby more interesting and thinks it can prevent injustice
He said it could be the difference between ‘a millionaire and a pauper’ after Daniel Dubois was denied victory over Oleksandr Usyk when his body shot was ruled a low blow
‘Del Boy’ said similar technology – also found in football – could help decide “whether you’re going to be a millionaire or a pauper again.”
“To be honest I think VAR is going to box because you have it in tennis, you have it in rugby, you have it in football,” he added.
‘But remember, this VAR in boxing would be great because (instead of) you winning a world title and making another £40 million for your next fight, you end up losing it because the referee didn’t see the shot, or the referee thinks is a foul shot.
‘So in that moment one man can decide whether you become a millionaire or become a pauper again. I’ve had them a lot. I mean, good luck winning fights and then the fights are given to the other people.
‘You need VAR and then you need the other two judges, three judges somewhere in the arena, who score the fight and then they also look at the cards of the other judges.’
Chisora also praised the impact of the South African team ahead of the World Cup this week
Chisora also touched on the significance of the South African rugby team in the lead-up to the World Cup, explaining how they ‘united a nation’ and ‘belonged to Africa’.
He said South Africa had created an important legacy after Nelson Mandela famously inspired the 1995 team to win the World Cup that year and helped change the complexion of a divided nation mired in apartheid.
‘I think when Nelson Mandela came out of prison, he wanted to unite the country – actually all of Africa. The only way you could unite the whole nation was through rugby, not football. Do you understand?
“If you look at our vision of Nelson Mandela, it’s all about rugby for the Springboks, so that’s quite interesting. Because when the South African team starts playing rugby, black and white also support the team. It’s not about, “Oh, you know… this is our team.” The team actually belongs to Africa.’