‘That was terrible’: Jeff Fenech rages over boxing KO ‘chaos’

Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech has been left furious after a pair of corners refused to throw in the towel despite some brutal beat downs.

Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech has been left fuming after the early stages of the Wednesday night’s No Limit Boxing undercard in Sydney.

Headlined by Isaac Hardman’s return to the ring after his controversial split decision loss to Rohan Murdock after going up to super middleweight earlier in the year, the undercard saw some huge TKOs to kick off the card.

BOXING | SUN AUG 23: Nikita Tszyu, with an unbeaten record, faces Jack Brubaker, seeking redemption after a past defeat to Tim Tszyu. Plus, Liam Wilson, takes on undefeated world number 13 Carlos Alanis. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >

With just four fights on the card, Australia was introduced to former world champion Billy Dib’s protege Mounir Fathi in a one sided beat down, where he dropped his opponent Jerome Pascua four times across two rounds before it was finally waved off.

A huge right hand from the Moroccan born Fathi sat Pascua on the canvas as he beat the count, but he appeared on very unsteady legs.

“Don’t let him fight,” Fenech said in commentary as Pascua tried to walk off the knockdown.

However, it did continue and Pascua was dropped again with a body shot as he only just made it to the bell.

Fox Sports commentators Ben Damon and Fenech didn’t think Pascua would make it back for the second round.

“I wouldn’t let him return,” Fenech said. “They’re giving him water, they’re giving him a break and they’re sending him out there to be destroyed.”

Mounir Fathi knocked his opponent down four times. Photo: Fox Sports

But he did return, only to cop more punishment and was dropped by another body shot.

He again beat the count but it was a matter of time for Mounir.

“They shouldn’t be allowing him (Pascua) to cop this punishment,” Fenech said.

Pascua made it to the end of the round but took a knee and the fight was mercifully waved off.

It was an impressive performance for Fathi, who celebrated going to 6-0 with a backflip.

“I trained 10 years, I waited, this is the first opportunity and first step, 10 years, now first opportunity,” he said.

Dib said it was onward and upward for his charge, who was set to make some big waves.

“I told you guys, this kid is devastating,” Dib said. “This is only the start.

“With No Limit in our corner, the big fish are going to come. No disrespect to anybody out there, but O’Meley’s, Brubakers, Wade Ryan — you name it, we're coming.

“We want to build this kid up, we want to fight the right guys and when the time is right, we’re going to fight for that world title. I guarantee he’s going to be world champion.”

The second fight was much the same with Riley Powers being knocked to the canvas by Ralph Etienne.

While Powers had the height and reach advantage, Etienne dominated on debut.

Late in the opening round, Etienne landed three huge shots, with huge right hand putting Powers on the canvas.

“And that will be it, because he is absolutely gone,” Damon said.

Riley Powers was out at the end of the first round. Photo: Fox Sports

But he called it too early as Powers was allowed to sit in his corner without a count.

“He’s been saved by the bell after the first round,” Damon said.

Fenech: “I think they were asking for the count. That guy was very very badly hurt.”

Damon: “We should have had a count.”

Fenech: “Yes, of course we should have had a count. And if he couldn’t respond, then the fight’s over. Don’t say ‘the bell’s rung, we’re going to give you a rest’. Look at that, that was terrible.”

Damon: “He was gone and he should have been counted out.”

Fenech: “Without doubt.”

Damon added it was “chaos” and that the only argument not to count Powers out was that the final shot was after the bell, but that would have led to an Etienne disqualification.

Powers incredibly survived the next round but Fenech was not happy.

“Great round for Etienne but what a round for this guy to last the second round after what happened to him in the first round, but it’s crazy,” Fenech said. “He was knocked out.”

However, Powers didn’t last long as Etienne went in for the kill.

Fenech praised the referee for waving off the fight but h

“It’s sad to see the corner, they’re just not looking after their fighters,” Fenech said.

“He could not win the fight. I heard his corner say he needed to win the next two rounds. No he didn’t — he needed to annihilate his opponent and knock him out.”

Originally published as ‘That was terrible’: Jeff Fenech rages over boxing KO ‘chaos’