What a disgrace. Nick Ball gets the unanimous nod over Sam Goodman, and instead of talking about a brilliant fight, we’re stuck tearing apart two absolute clowns in suits. 117-111 and 118-110? Are you f**** kidding me? Those scorecards weren’t just off, they were insulting. These weren’t judges, they were scribbling blind men with licenses they don’t deserve. The only card that wasn’t an abomination was 115-113. I had it dead even. A draw.
This wasn’t Ball dominating. This wasn’t Goodman folding. This was twelve rounds of pure grit, trading, slipping, bleeding. Goodman worked the body, snapped that jab, countered sharp, and had Ball’s face leaking late. Ball kept pressing, throwing leather like a madman, but half of it hit gloves and elbows. A close, hard fight. And yet two geniuses decided it was a near shutout. That’s not judging, that’s malpractice.
118-110? 117-111? Whoever scored that should be dragged back to the dressing room and told to never judge a fight again. A blindfolded drunk at ringside could’ve done a better job. You don’t erase Goodman’s clean shots, his body work, his late flurries, just because the other guy was throwing more. That is pure disrespect.
The Aussie slipped, countered, dug to the body, and in the final round had Ball flailing. That’s no sparring partner effort, that’s a fighter demanding respect. And what does he get? Two judges wiping their arses with the truth. The disrespect is staggering. Goodman earned at least a draw, maybe the nod, maybe even a close L but these blind clowns wrote him off like he never landed a glove.
Fans Saw a War, Judges Saw Something Else Entirely
Fans tuned in for a war, and they got one. Blood, guts, swings of momentum—everything you want in a fight. But what they’ll remember isn’t the battle, it’s the botched ending. Two judges turned a classic into a farce. Ball fought hard, sure, but those cards were a joke. Boxing keeps shooting itself in the foot with this circus act judging. Tonight was no 117-111. No 118-110. Tonight was a war. And these “judges” pissed all over it.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/QueensberryRIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA. AUGUST 16: Fight Night at the ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the 16th August 2025. ESports World Cup. Headlining the event are heavyweight’s Dillian Whyte v Moses Itauma. Queensberry Promotions. Credit: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Amy Kaplan has been glued to boxing since the age of 10, long before most kids her age even knew what a jab was. A lifelong fan turned sharp writer, she brings both passion and a bit of bite to her coverage at Boxing247.com.
With over 5 years covering professional boxing, she has reported from ringside at major events across the UK, U.S. and Puerto Rico, delivering timely breakdowns and exclusive insights.
Known for her quick wit and clear style, Amy doesn’t just report on the global fight scene — she points out the things others miss and occasionally says what everyone else is thinking (but won’t write).
