The final bell signaling the end of the eight-round contest between Ramla Ali and Lila Furtado rang out, but for many observers, the real battle had just begun – the one between ringside perception and the judges` scorecards. On the packed undercard leading up to the highly anticipated Taylor-Serrano III main event in New York, British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali was ultimately awarded a points victory over Brazil`s Lila Furtado. However, the decision, rendered by scores of 77-75, 77-75, and 78-74 in Ali`s favor, immediately became the subject of widespread debate and disagreement among analysts, commentators, and fans watching the proceedings.
This preliminary bout offered a clear clash of styles from the outset. Ali, guided by trainer John Ryder, displayed moments of technical precision and clean boxing, aiming to control distance and land sharp punches. Furtado, conversely, employed a relentless, high-pressure approach, constantly marching forward, absorbing incoming fire, and looking to smother Ali`s work and engage in close-quarters exchanges. It was a gritty, back-and-forth affair where Ali`s technical skill was tested by Furtado`s sheer tenacity.
The fight contained moments that would later become focal points of the scoring controversy. In the second round, Ali landed a significant right hand that visibly rocked Furtado, causing her to stumble and appear momentarily hurt – an incident some felt heavily influenced the judges early on. Yet, Furtado, showing remarkable resilience, quickly recovered and resumed her aggressive charge. As the rounds progressed, Furtado`s sustained pressure and body work seemed to accumulate, often pinning Ali against the ropes or forcing her into uncomfortable inside fighting. Despite a cut opening on her nose around the fourth round, Furtado pressed on relentlessly, following instructions from her corner to maintain pressure and target the body. The eighth and final round added another layer of drama, with Ali suffering a cut over her left eye, bleeding as the fight concluded.
When the official scores were announced, the reaction from many was one of surprise. Veteran commentator Andre Ward, providing analysis on the Netflix broadcast, was unequivocal in his assessment, stating plainly, “All respect to Ramla Ali, but she didn`t win that fight.” Post-fight interviewer Ariel Helwani also directly conveyed the sentiment of many ringside observers, suggesting to Ali that he, too, believed Furtado had done enough to secure the victory. The general consensus outside of the official scorecards seemed to favor Furtado`s consistent pressure, higher volume, and apparent control of the later rounds.
Despite the contentious nature of the outcome, Ramla Ali handled the post-fight interview with grace, acknowledging the difficulty of the fight and suggesting that the second-round moment of hurting Furtado might have been crucial in the judges` eyes. Officially, Ali improves her professional record to 10-2 with 2 KOs, while a visibly disappointed Lila Furtado moves to 11-3 with 2 KOs, arguably feeling she was on the wrong end of a subjective decision. The bout serves as a notable case study in the often-debated realm of boxing judging, where the balance between technical striking and effective aggression can lead to widely differing interpretations of the action. In New York, the scorecards favored technique, leaving a lingering question mark over a hard-fought contest and fueling further discussion on the nuances of scoring in the sport.
