The British Boxing Board of Control will examine the contentious outcome of Saturday’s heavyweight bout between David Adeleye and Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva on Wednesday (April 9), with the governing body’s ruling on Adeleye’s stoppage victory to be released thereafter. 

Underdog TKV was boxing well going into the sixth round of the contest for the vacant British heavyweight title when referee Ron Kearney, in his first major bout as an A Star level referee, twice called break and tapped the glove of TKV which was holding onto Adeleye’s waist. The break didn’t come, however. Adeleye immediately unleashed a hefty left hook that landed flush on the unguarded chin of TKV and sent him to the floor. Kearny then administered a count, just about beaten by the visibly dazed TKV.

Upon the resumption of the action, Adeleye scored another knockdown and the bout, with Tshikeva in no condition to defend himself, was halted after 55 seconds of the round much to the annoyance of the TKV corner.

The rules in the boxers’ handbook reads: “When ordered to break the boxers must do so promptly while defending themselves at all times.” There was certainly no break in the action, but TKV did not defend himself after hearing the referee’s instruction, leaving the Board directors with a decision to make.

It is understood that the BBBoC will not change the result of the contest, regardless of how they rule the referee’s actions. “The fight has already happened and retrospectively changing the result is exceptionally rare,” the BBBoC’s Robert Smith told BoxingScene. 

The Board therefore have two options. They accept the referee’s decision and take no further action, or they order a rematch and thereby admit fault in the official’s performance.