Tim Tszyu defeat: Doctor comes out swinging, saying he would have stopped fight if he could

Tim Tszyu’s Gold Coast-based fight doctor has come out swinging at “armchair critics” after the boxer’s blood-soaked defeat in Las Vegas, declaring he would have stopped the “trainwreck” bout if he could.

Tim Tszyu’s Gold Coast-based fight doctor has come out swinging at “armchair critics” after the boxer’s blood-soaked defeat in Las Vegas, declaring he would have stopped the “trainwreck” bout if he could.

A gallant Tszyu suffered his first professional defeat when he lost to 197cm American giant Sebastian Fundora in the desert playground at the weekend.

The Aussie superstar went down on points in a split decision, having fought most of the contest blinded by blood after copping an accidental elbow to the head in the second round.

After landing back in Australia from Vegas, Team Tszyu doctor Bill Anseline took aim at criticism of the camp’s handling of the fight which saw Fundora crowned WBO and WBC super welterweight champion.

Dr Anseline – a medico to the stars including Tszyu and the likes of the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles – said he was powerless to stop the bloodbath as he watched it unfold “like a train wreck” ringside.

A bloodied Tim Tszyu battles against Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

He said that decision rested with two Nevada Athletic Commission doctors and fight referee Harvey Dock, and he would have been “thrown out” by state troopers if he tried to intervene.

“If it was me, I would have stopped the fight straight away but I had no control whatsoever,” he said.

“I was standing there watching this train wreck and I felt helpless to look after my man, my fighter. And it was so frustrating.”

Dr Anseline said Tszyu had suffered a “very rare” cut which caused bleeding that was never going to be stopped without surgery.

“It was one of those unfortunate and freakish events,” he said.

“I’ve never seen a cut like it in boxing. I’ve heard about them in folklore but they’re as rare as hen’s teeth. I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of scalp repairs and when you get a cut like that, it’s like Mt Vesuvius and you ain’t going to stop it (the bleeding) in the ring.”

Dr Anseline said the fight doctors had assessed Tszyu “five or six times” after he suffered the cut and he was deemed right to continue.

Team Tszyu doctor Bill Anseline, in his surgery. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I’m not having a go at the doctors but I would have dealt with this totally differently and stopped the fight in the second or third round,” he said.

“To me, it’s about duty of care to the boxers. You really have to look after the boxers, especially in this concussion (conscious) era.

“The corner is waiting for guidance from the doctors. They’re on the other side of the ring and they don’t listen to me. It’s not like I can give a second opinion.

“Here are these two accredited fight doctors and there’s this Australian coming in trying to tell them what to do. They’re going to listen to me?”

Dr Anseline also defended Tszyu’s corner men who were accused of not having the correct ointments to treat the cut, saying they correctly used adrenaline and vaseline but “nothing was going to stop it” (the blood).

“The armchair critics are there and they can have their opinion, but the facts are the facts,” he said.

“I cannot fault these guys, our corner, but the fact is we were on a hiding to nothing.

“The university of hindsight is a beautiful university to go to, and Tim makes no excuses.”

Tim Tszyu speaks to media after suffering a deep cut to the head.

Team Tszyu manager Glen Jennings said what happened in Vegas was “the nature of boxing” and there were no grounds for an appeal.

“Ultimately it didn’t go our way but we can’t be disappointed in what Tim did considering the circumstances,” he said.

“It’s just a shame that we lost the (world title) belts through a vision impairment issue. It should never have happened.

“In the elite level of boxing, stuff like that happens and you’ve got to plough on and do the best you can do. The doctors agreed that Tim was good to go and the referee agreed that Tim was good to go … but it’s hard to track your opponent if you can’t see him.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu defeat: Doctor comes out swinging, saying he would have stopped fight if he could