Wilder caught Fury twice in the fourth round and boxing fans noted how referee Russell Mora’s slow count allowed the Gypsy King more time to get to his feet.
I agree with @andreward the count was crazy slow! He isn’t supposed to stop counting to tell deontay to go to his corner. #FuryvsWilderIII
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 10, 2021
GiveMeSport reports that this was noticed during the fight, with Mora even telling Wilder to return to his corner midway through, and not taking into account his own pause in the count.
This was even mentioned by the commentator on the night and raked in numerous comments on social media concerning the topic.
From the likes of super former middleweight boxer Andre Ward and former UFC star, Daniel Cormier, who said in his response to Ward on Twitter: “I agree with @andreward the count was crazy slow! He isn’t supposed to stop counting to tell Deontay to go to his corner.”
That was a slow count… we gotta fight!!
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) October 10, 2021
Former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion, Dustin Poirier, was also of the same opinion and tweeted: “That was a slow count, we gotta fight!” It is not the first time that the slow count controversy has come to the fore in Fury-Wilder fights, after the controversial draw between the pair in December 2018.
Fury is unlikely to care too much about the ‘slow count’ talk after another memorable victory over Wilder, in what was a blockbuster end to an unforgettable trilogy of fights.
His fans will point to the fact that he was back on his feet once the referee reached eight on both occasions.
Fury is now looking to gain the WBF, IBF and WBO titles, which are currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, following the Ukrainian’s shock victory over Anthony Joshua.
I see a lot of chimping from Wilder fans about “muh slow count”. In the video you can clearly see that Fury was on his feet within 10 seconds from both knockdowns in the 4th round. :53-:44 and :16-:06.
Stay salty 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/Ybbn4mDVWa
— Gaddius Maximus (@GaddiusMaximus) October 10, 2021
Fury feels he now has little to prove when talk turns to who is the current greatest heavyweight champion of the modern era, and ranks himself at the very top of the list.
Wilder second knockdown seemed a slow count to me. #FuryWilder3 #FuryWilderIII pic.twitter.com/xqLTpHIL5O
— Darren (@Darren94775262) October 10, 2021