Chisora vs. Wilder: What did referee Mark Bates get wrong? | DAZN News CA
Referee Mark Bates was criticised for his officiating during Deontay Wilder's win over Derek Chisora.
www.dazn.comHere’s the latest I have on Mark Bates, the heavyweight referee:
- The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) decided not to take disciplinary action against referee Mark Bates after his handling of the Wilder-Chisora fight at the O2 Arena in London. This conclusion came as the BBBofC reviewed the performance, with the board ultimately satisfied that Bates managed a difficult and fast-paced contest.[1][2][4]
- Reports from The Ring and multiple outlets in early April 2026 echoed that Bates would not face sanctions, noting statements from BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith confirming satisfaction with Bates’s officiating.[3][4][1]
- Media coverage highlighted the controversy surrounding Bates’s decisions during the bout, including criticism from Deontay Wilder and others about punches and exchanges near the ropes, but the prevailing official stance was that the fight was handled within acceptable professional standards given the chaotic nature of the exchanges.[2][8][1]
If you’d like, I can pull a brief timeline of key moments in the fight and summarize how Bates’s calls were received in real-time versus the BBBofC’s post-fight review. I can also look for any newer developments or statements from the BBBofC or Ring Magazine to confirm if there have been any changes since April 2026.