Reactions to the controversial result when Maxwell beat 'Riiddy'
Sam Maxwell (16-0, 11KOs) snatched the British and Commonwealth super-lightweight titles away from the defending champion Akeem Ennis-Brown (14-1, 1KO) by unanimous decision with scores of 116-113 twice and 115-114.
Some thought that Merseysider Maxwell was very fortunate to win the Lonsdale belt in a messy fight, where he appeared to be second best throughout the championship contest, even though he was forcing the action.
It was never going to be a great fight, with 'Riiddy' being such an awkward fighter, so in a forgettable encounter, the Liverpool man took the verdict but every fight report you can find has the word 'controversial' mentioned.
MTK Global even ran a poll immediately afterwards asking the important question 'Who do you think should have won?' and the result was unanimous – 77% choosing the losing fight 'Riidy'!
So BBN decided to gather the boxing world's reactions right here:
What the new champion, Sam Maxwell, had to say straight after the victory:
"I feel like I didn't get caught clean by him with many shots, it was just a lot of maybe I worked on the inside. All the powerful shots were coming from me. If you like boxing or you like my style, you gotta score me. Obviously he's a confident kid, he feels like he won the fight, but that's on him."
The ex-champion Akeem Ennis-Brown held himself with class in defeat, stating:
"Tough fight, I felt like I won and I know a lot of you guys did too, but it is what it is. I’ll head to the gym, rebuild, and be back real soon. Appreciate the messages of support."
Reactions to the result:
Denzel Bentley
Former British middleweight champion
"Nah man, whether you like the man's style or not, you gotta appreciate the fact that he won most of those rounds."
Troy Williamson
IBF European super-welterweight champion
"Close, close fight. Well done Sam Maxwell. A wins a win doesnt matter how ugly it is."
Rob Tebbut
Boxing Social
"That’s a bad decision."
Tim Rickson
BBN Editor
"I think that Sam Maxwell deserves credit for being the aggressor and forcing the action. I completely understand why the word 'controversial' is attached to the result of the fight, but contests that are this close, I don't believe you can ever really call them a robbery. That said, I was a bit surprised at the result, but I'm pleased for Sam and I don't wish to take anything away from him in his moment."
Twitter comments:
"Terrible decision. Maxwell doing very little and getting clearly outboxed, I don't see how you could give him more than three rounds."
"Kept coming forward throwing the right, and abandoning his jab, then tying up. Maxwell was too one-dimensional."
"Carl Frampton said it all. Absolutely baffled because that was a joke decision."
"Completely baffled by this decision. Ennis brown was definitely robbed."
"Sam Maxwell didnt do enough to take the belts, no way."
"Switching off, shocking decision."
"Corruption still very much alive in boxing. There's absolutely no way anyone had that for Maxwell, let alone all three judges. It stinks."
"These type of decisions are the cancer of boxing."
"Strange decision but let’s not forget Maxwell forced the fight and Ennis-Brown run all night."
"Even Dick Turpin wore a mask. Robbery."
"No way he won, but please no rematch."
"Terrible decision. Needs to rematch."
"Disgusting decision. Wasn't even close. Maxwell barely won two rounds."
"Absolute joke of a decision."
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