Nikita Tszyu has controversially drawn with Ben Mahoney in an all-Aussie bloodbath on the Gold Coast.
The brutal 12-round world title eliminator, in which Tszyu was cut open above his eye from a clash of heads, went to the judges scorecard, with all three seeing the bout differently.
One scored it 117-111 in favour of pre-fight favourite Tszyu, while hometown favourite Mahoney, 31, got the nod 115-113 on another card, and the deciding judge scored it 114-114.
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And Tszyu, 28, who is now 12-0-1, was brutally honest when asked about his thoughts on the decision, shockingly claiming he felt Mahoney did enough to get his hand raised.
He said: “I gave the fight to Ben, honestly.
“It was one tough fight. I knew it was going to be like that. I gave him maybe one or two rounds more, but I can’t be a judge right now.
“It was a close fight, but I thought maybe he edged it.”
Moments later, promoter George Rose was booed as he gave his opinion on the fight — and the fans’ jeering clearly got to him as he fired back at the crowd.
He said: “I thought it was a rightful draw. I’ll keep my composure because I want to slap the s*** out of somebody if youse keep going. It’s annoying the f*** out of me.
“I don’t like cheeky people. I’ve not got time for that.”
He then went on to add: “Anybody who wants to boo me, meet me out the front and we’ll sort it out.”
Gold Coast fighter Mahoney, who had the support of the crowd and is now 17-0-2, said: “I do believe I won that fight. I think I had that fight. All respect to Nikita, he’s a f***ing warrior.”
Nikita’s performance came hours after brother Tim appeared to aim a subtle dig at him on social media.
The 31-year-old, three years Nikita’s senior, posted on Instagram about four of the fighters on his sibling’s undercard, but did not mention his namesake.
The message read: “Good luck to the boys fighting.
“Keen to watch Koen (Mazoudier), Kira (Ruston), Callum (Peters) and (Blake) Wells!”
However, Tim did share a picture of his brother on the TV and the message: “Let’s go,” before he also posted after the bout: “Mad slugfest for Australian boxing fans. Well done to both boys.”
Back in April, it was confirmed the brothers’ relationship had turned heated.
The pair have supported each other throughout their boxing careers to date — until Nikita was nowhere to be seen at Tim’s Easter weekend bout with Nurja.
Nikita, 28, explained he was absent from the fight due to illness, a comment that was laughed off by Tim.
He responded to a video of Nikita’s explanation with two laughing emojis.
Nikita was in attendance for Tim’s win over Errol Spence Jr last month, but was conspicuously spotted at the back of the team photos during the celebrations.
The pair have not revealed the reason behind their feud, but it has been reported the animosity surrounds Tim’s acrimonious split from manager Glen Jennings.
Tim and Jennings’ row over money led to a legal dispute, and Nikita’s decision to support Jennings, whom he is also managed by, is understood to have angered Tim’s camp.