In an interview with SiriusXM Boxing, referee Jack Reiss provides his explanation for not immediately waving off the fight when Deontay Wilder leveled Tyson Fury in the 12th round with a couple of monstrous shots.

“Let me tell you, if [there] was earlier, heavy damage and [Fury] had been hurt — you know, there was a history in the fight that he was really getting knocked around and he fell like that and hit his head — I would’ve waved it off.

“But the fight was so close, the magnitude of the fight — you know, a heavyweight championship fight — I’ve always been taught to count a champion out and I wanted to give him every opportunity. So I took my time — not that I stalled the count like these knuckleheads are saying — just patient and I went down to make sure what I was doing was correct, ‘cause I wanna do what’s best for boxing. I always wanna do what’s best for boxing.

“And listen, look at all the talk. Look at the controversy over who they thought won, the rematch. This thing here, there was such a buzz over this. I think it’s best for boxing. Let’s see it again.”

Credit to Reiss for not getting overwhelmed by the moment when many other fights would’ve be ended, which in this case would’ve been premature.