dazn
We have another boxing controversy brewing.
On Saturday, Vergil Ortiz Jr. defeated Fredrick Lawson in the first round of their fight, but fans didn’t agree with the stoppage.
Video of the stoppage shows Lawson blocking most of Ortiz’s punches with his arms while on the ropes before ref Tony Weeks decided to call the fight.
It didn't take @VergilOrtiz long to secure another stoppage 💥#OrtizLawson pic.twitter.com/7Kt6PmnJNi
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) January 7, 2024
After the stoppage, veteran boxing writer Dan Rafael immediately called for Weeks’ retirement.
“Tony Weeks refereed the best fight ever in Corrales-Castillo 1 & they took mammoth punishment & Corrales down 2x in rd 10 19 years ago. He didn’t stop it. Then he stopped #OrtizLawson for no reason in rd 1. This was worse than Rolly-Barroso. Time to retire, respectfully. #boxing”
“I’m not being emotional or getting caught up in the moment but I think that is literally the worst stoppage I have ever seen in about 45 years of watching #boxing, including covering it for the last 24. #OrtizLawson”
ESPN’s Mike Coppinger was also critical of Weeks.
“Ultra-quick stoppage by Tony Weeks – what was that? Vergil Ortiz buckled Fredrick Lawson with a jab and then flurried on the ropes as ref jumped in. Lots of booing in Vegas and not what Ortiz needed, either, as he could have used some more rounds in his first fight in 17 months.”
Update: Weeks claims he stopped the fight because says he saw Lawson’s eyes roll into the back of his head.
Clearly, Fredrick Lawson was overmatched and Vergil Ortiz was going to stop this bout soon anyway. But the timing, especially so early in the fight, looked off. Tony Weeks told DAZN’s Beto Duran that he stopped the bout because he saw Lawson’s eyes roll into the back of his head.
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 7, 2024