Nuclear War – Darragh Foley climbs back through the ropes to win ‘Fight of the Decade’

If your average barnstormer is labeled ‘a war’, then Darragh Foley versus Ty Telford was a war of the nuclear kind.

The Irish and Aussie lightweights served up 10 chaotic and violent rounds dropping spectators jaws to the floor while continually rattling each others.

So action pack was the encouther that Australian commentators and experts heralded it as the ‘Fight of the Decade’.

Both fighters landed heavy power shots throughout a fight one newspapers called ‘one of the most dramatic Australian boxing has ever seen’ and on different occasions both looked in serious trouble.

However, in true war fashion, both battled back from the brink to remain in the fight and inflict damage of their own.

After all the drama you could want in a night of action, Foley was eventually declared the victor.

The Dubliner won via split decision, with the judges scoring it 97-93, 95-94 and 93-96.

It sees Foley win the WBA Oceania, IBF Pan Pacific and IBO Asia Pacific titles and end the year in style with an important victory.

Teldford started the brighter, but appeared to get right hand happy and allowing southpaw Foley to land clean and big via counter punching.

Foley went through the ropes in the eight and it was scored a knockdown, but he rallied back to win the final two stanzas and indeed the fight.

Main Event commentator Ben Damon couldn’t hide excitement upon the final bell.

“That is something else between these warriors,” Damon said. “We’ve just seen something from another planet between these two.

“Foley, who looked gone at times, he went through the ropes. Telford, he was finished … we’ve seen something else.

“Oh goodness, what a fight we’ve just seen.

“There does not deserve to be a loser. An incredible fight.

“I don’t think we’ll see that fight just once more, I think we’ll see it a few more times.

“Just a brilliant fight.”

The victory should see Foley move toward a world ranking and could open doors to bigger things. However, there is no doubt a big money offer to rematch Telford will be put on the table as it’s one Australian fans will be desperate to see again.

Foley improves to 19(9)-4(0)-1 while Telford slips to 6(2)-1(0) after his first career defeat.