Following a controversial decision at its Nov. 26 event, Polish promotion, Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), has announced that former World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski’s win over James Thompson has been changed to a no contest.
The fight served as the co-main event for KSW 17, which took place at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland.
At the end of the second round of the heavyweight clash, it was expected that a third and final “overtime” round would be necessary after Thompson dominated the opening frame while Pudzianowski rebounded in the second. However, after speaking with the judges, the referee halted the bout and Pudzianowski was awarded a majority decision win.
Thompson, clearly enraged, grabbed the microphone from the in-ring announcer and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade that denounced his opponent and the promotion.
As it turns out, the Englishman’s anger was justified.
KSW officials revealed today at a press conference that the fight should have gone to a third and decisive round. Citing a miscommunication between the judges and the referee, the fight was mistakenly awarded to Pudzianowski at the end of the second stanza.
Judge Piotr Baginski scored the two rounds 20-19 for Thompson, judge Robert Lysiak scored it 20-19 in favor of Pudzianowski, while judge Leszek Pawlega scored it a 19-19 draw.
When the referee requested the scores, Baginski incorrectly stated his scorecard in favor of Pudzianowski. Had the information been conveyed correctly, the overtime round would have been ordered.
Due to the fact that the overtime round did not happen, KSW decided to erase this fight from both fighters’ records by declaring the no contest.
With the controversy mitigated, Thompson has since apologized for his post-fight rant but was unsure about a third bout with the famed Polish strongman.
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