‘Fight of the year’: Ben Hussain edges Koen Mazoudier in ‘all-out war’

An epic all-out war on the Nikita Tszyu undercard has been heralded by commentators as the best Aussie boxing fight of the year.

There was no love lost between Ben Hussain and Koen Mazoudier in the build-up and the two super welterweights have put on a show in a seriously brutal and entertaining fight.

Opening the pay-per-view element of the card headlined by Nikita Tszyu Vs Jack Brubaker, the pair gave viewer their absolute money’s worth.

Before even taking to the ring, the pair had exchanged words.

A proposed $30,000 “winner takes all” bet at a press conference earlier in the month when the pair shook on the deal came to a head at Monday’s pre-fight press conference when Hussain revealed he had consulted lawyers about the bet.

Fox Sports asked him why he made the bet, with Hussain saying: “Because I want to take everything from him. I want his ranking, purse, all of it.

“And I’m deadly serious about this. Because if you know you’re winning, why not bet the house?”

Mazoudier, who has two young kids, said the bet talk was “how a clown talks”.

“When we mentioned betting on the fight, I said I didn’t want to take food out of your family’s mouth,” Mazoudier said.

“But you said you did want to take food out of my kids’ mouths.

“You do know that I’ll kill someone who wants to do that. I’ll literally kill someone.

“If this was a different time, I’d come over there, cut your head off and give it to my kids to kick around like a soccer ball.”

Hussain and Mazoudier put on a show. Picture: No Limit / Gregg Porteous

So its safe to say it was a powder keg ready to explode.

Hussain and Mazoudier both came out swinging from the opening bell as they refused to give an inch.

“Outstanding stuff here from Ben Hussain and Koen Mazoudier,” Ben Damon said on Main Event, describing the bout as “phenomenal”.

“We are seeing an all out war.”

Barry Michael added: “The crowd is watching one of the best fights I’ve seen in a long, long time.

“It’s a ripper but it’s classy as well.”

Harry Garside said at the end of the fourth round: “I’m calling it – this is a fight of the year contender, surely?”

Incredibly, the pace continued throughout the fight with neither fighter taking a backwards step.

By the end of the ninth, the commentators couldn’t believe it hadn’t slowed down.

“We’re at the end of round nine and I’m still waiting for someone to slow down,” Garside said incredulously.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing a draw. Run it back boys, run it back.”

Benjamin Hussain claimed the close win. Picture: No Limit / Gregg Porteous

Somehow, they maintained the high tempo to go the full 10 rounds.

Hussain won by majority decision (95-95, 96-94 x2) but that’s about as close as it could possibly be.

There was some great respect between the fighters after the bout as they embraced following the incredible bout.

Speaking after the fight, Hussain thanked Lachlan “Bubba” Higgins saying: “He turned me into a dog, I switched the whole style and now I’m coming for heads.”

Hussain lost his second fight with a second round TKO to Higgins. Since then, he’s had three TKO/KOs and the absolute war against Mazoudier.

He also paid tribute to his vanquished opponent.

“Respect to Koen, I don’t live around here no more but we’re two kids from the area and we’re trying to get out of the place,” he said.

“So no hate on me, no hate on him, we come here and put on a show.”