The combat sports community was in utter shock after the fight between Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney. The two were fighting for the WBA super-flyweight title on the Terence Crawford vs Kell Brook undercard. The fight was stopped due to a suspected accidental head-butt by ‘The Monster’ Moloney in round 1. After using the video referral for 26 minutes to review the round, the referees made the decision to call it a no contest.
Due to what was officially ruled an accidental headbutt, #FrancoMoloney2 has been ruled as a No Decision.
We’ll just let you guys have it out in the replies … 🙃 pic.twitter.com/8DAnn0krWV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 15, 2020
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While an emotional Andrew Moloney was left to mull over his lost opportunity, Joshua Franco remained the WBA super-flyweight champion. Video footage showed no head-butt on the right eye of Franco. However, it did show that Maloney threw multiple jabs and targeted his opponent’s right eye.
Moloney started the fight faster and had the upper hand up until that point. He was on course to beat Franco to reclaim the title.
Here is how the combat sports community reacted to the fight and the decision.
My god did this man get robbed. One of the worst calls ever. What is the point of an instant replay when this can happen? https://t.co/MTZBJiwsvm
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 15, 2020
They were NEVER gonna change it!!! @andreward was right! They wouldn’t have done it. Once that decision was made, not enough evidence to overturn @Espn @trboxing
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) November 15, 2020
I don’t know about u guys, but I was ready to pay 75 bucks just to have these guys stop talking. #FrancoMoloney2 #CrawfordBrook
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 15, 2020
Man, this is heartbreaking. Impossible not to feel for Moloney. Not right. He won.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 15, 2020
The commentary team waking up with no job tomorrow 😂
— Sunny Edwards (@SunnyEdwards) November 15, 2020
Nevada is just waiting to check the mail-in, absentee and provisional replays. This is fine.
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) November 15, 2020
I actually can’t believe that. #FrancoMoloney2 pic.twitter.com/IbfzMzC21u
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) November 15, 2020
More reactions to the Joshua Franco Andrew Moloney fight
WORST use of replay ever. This has taken so long to be ridiculous.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 15, 2020
This is actually comical at this point. I’m rooting for it to last another 20 minutes.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 15, 2020
Edgar Berlanga’s entire 15-fight career has lasted less than this delay.#CrawfordBrook
— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) November 15, 2020
It’s fair to say fans are not happy with the decision. Whether it was with how long it took, or the decision itself, this fight has caused a huge stir in the sport. What did you think of the fight and the decision?
