Dave Allen and Thomas Carty stepped into a massive arena for their heavyweight bout this past Saturday, with over 83,000 Irish fans packed into Dublin’s famed Croke Park. The popular British boxer Allen faced off against the hometown favorite Carty in a high-profile event that served as a lead-up to Katie Taylor’s retirement fight.
However, barely 80 seconds into the first round, an unusual incident occurred when Carty fell through the ropes and out of the ring, abruptly ending the match and resulting in a no-contest ruling. Both fighters spoke about the strange finish on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Tuesday.
Carty explained that during the first clinch, he was struck at the back of the head but continued fighting without much concern. Soon after, in a second clinch, he was hit again in the same area and then suddenly found himself upside down, falling out of the ring. He recalled hitting a bench on the way down, followed by a hard landing on the ground.
The Irishman, with a record of 11-1 and 9 knockouts, shared that the fall caused injuries to his neck and the back of his head. Although he attempted to get up, his leg was trapped beneath a stool, preventing him from continuing. Surrounded by about 20 people — medical staff, photographers, and his coach — Carty was assessed ringside and deemed unfit to proceed, leading to the fight’s stoppage.
On the other side, Allen confessed he was initially confused about what had happened, uncertain if he’d been disqualified or won the fight. The official outcome was unclear until ring announcer David Diamante declared the no-contest after a discussion among the referee, medical team, and local commission was broadcast live.
Had the punch been ruled legal and the cause of Carty’s fall, Allen would have likely won. Conversely, if the strike to the back of the head was deemed intentional or the main cause of injury, Carty could have been awarded a win by disqualification. Ultimately, officials ruled it an accidental incident, thus no winner was declared.
Carty expressed uncertainty about Allen’s intentions, doubting the punches were deliberate but criticizing them as rough and unnecessary tactics. Allen defended himself, saying he never sought to end the fight unfairly and that their brief conversation afterward convinced him Carty wasn’t holding any ill will.
Although neither accused the other of purposely causing the fight’s dramatic end, many fans at Croke Park booed as slow-motion replays showed Allen’s punches landing on the back of Carty’s head. Some supporters believe these hits intentionally caused the fall, whereas Allen countered that his punches were aimed at legal targets and that Carty’s movements led to the awkward contact.
After the fight, some online skeptics speculated that Carty had quit, but he strongly denied this, emphasizing his commitment and preparation after a long recovery from an ACL injury. He stressed the sacrifices he and his team made to return to the ring and affirmed his eagerness for a rematch, believing he was dominating the fight until the incident.
Despite Carty’s desire for another bout, Allen is not interested in a rematch, stating he took the Dublin fight mainly because of a deal allowing some of his other fighters to participate on the same cards. With only a fight or two left in his career, Allen is focused on winning the British heavyweight title rather than revisiting this no-contest.
As a result, the Allen vs. Carty fight might become yet another unresolved chapter in boxing lore, leaving fans to wonder what could have been had the bout continued.
Fan Take: This bizarre ending highlights the unpredictability of boxing and how a single moment can change the course of careers and fan excitement. It also sets the stage for a potential highly anticipated rematch — one that could significantly impact both fighters’ legacies and energize the heavyweight division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
