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Eddie Hearn Says Boxing Needs VAR After Charlie Edwards's Controversy Vs. Julio Cesar Martinez

Eddie Hearn Says Boxing Needs VAR After Charlie Edwards's Controversy Vs. Julio Cesar Martinez

He's called for video replay in boxing.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Boxing needs VAR to help officials following last weekend's controversy, says Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn.

Charlie Edwards was stopped in the third round by Julio César Martínez. The Mexican was announced as the winner and subsequently the new flyweight world champion, until a bizarre intervention by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who overturned the decision to a no contest after video replay showed the challenger landed an illegal punch.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Hearn, who promoters Edwards, has now called for British boxing to follow in the footsteps of the Premier League and introduce VAR into the sport.

"Essentially it was VAR for boxing and it was 100% right," he said.

"It [the punch] was so late it was next week. When they played it back it was that bad they were able to make a decision instantly. I didn't expect them to do it and I've not seen anything like it.

"The WBC have a rule with video replays - they like to have it in-play but the British Boxing Board of Control and some other commissions do not.

"But with all the screens up it was easy for the president to say 'it's a no contest, I don't need to review it or go before a committee - it's my decision'.

"I don't see a downside of doing it in a sport where there's so much on the line.

"I'm in favour, what's the downside? It's not like it's going to slow the game down. That's the problem they talk about with football and cricket. There's this big controversy, he can't get up, so let's have a look at it. You didn't need to look at that one more than once."

Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA

VAR has been implemented into the Premier League this season to judge on goals, penalties and potential red cards, but the video assistant referees has been criticised for its controversial decisions, including the incident on Saturday during Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa.

Should VAR be introduced into boxing? Let us know what you think.

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Topics: Boxing News, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Premier League, Eddie Hearn, VAR