
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: (R-L) Vergil Ortiz Jr. walks away after knocking down Roberto Ortiz with a right hand during their super lightweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Tom Hogan/Golden Boy/Getty Images)

via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 15: (R-L) Vergil Ortiz Jr. walks away after knocking down Roberto Ortiz with a right hand during their super lightweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Tom Hogan/Golden Boy/Getty Images)
A referee’s decision can echo far beyond the ring. What if that echo reveals a mystery? In the world of boxing, the bout between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Fredrik Lawson was no ordinary match. It ended unusually early, with referee Tony Weeks halting the fight in the first round. This decision sparked immediate controversy.
But the plot thickened when Weeks mentioned a pre-fight brain scan. He claimed it showed an aneurysm in Lawson. Golden Boy Promotions, however, tell a different story. What’s the truth behind the aneurysm claim? And how does it change the narrative of that fateful night?
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Was the aneurysm claim valid?
In the wake of the abrupt end to the Ortiz-Lawson fight, referee Tony Weeks took to Facebook to justify his controversial decision. He wrote, “What the public didn’t know that prior to the fight they did a brain scan on him, and it came up that he had an aneurysm. Another doctor was brought in and gave him the same examination and he tested negative for the aneurysm, so they cleared him to fight.” This statement from Weeks suggested a concerning medical issue that could have justified the early stoppage.
Golden Boy Promotions released a statement denying this claim by Tony Weeks. They quoted, “Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned doctor to fight on Saturday night.” This quick dismissal added another layer of doubt over Tony Weeks’ decision-making in the bout.
Comunicado de @GoldenBoyBoxing le echan toda la culpa a la Comisión de Nevada.
El post de #TonyWeeks en facebook va abrir una caja de pandora que traerá muchas consecuencias negativas para TODOS los involucrados. pic.twitter.com/MjGi6Xke6J— Ricardo Celis (@CelisDeportes) January 8, 2024
Chris Mannix, a senior writer, also claimed on his X account that the Golden Boy president denied Week’s claims. He tweeted, “Golden Boy president Eric Gomez has denied to @SInow that pre-fight brain scans showed an aneurysm on Frederick Lawson, as referee Tony Weeks claimed on his Facebook page on Sunday.”
These new developments add a new layer of complexity to the already disputed fight decision.
Golden Boy president Eric Gomez has denied to @SInow that pre-fight brain scans showed an aneurysm on Frederick Lawson, as referee Tony Weeks claimed on his Facebook page on Sunday. Weeks stepped in to stop the Lawson-Vergil Ortiz fight quickly in the first round on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Xz4MCiR9Lg
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 8, 2024
The contrast between Weeks’ statement and Golden Boy Promotions’ denial created a whirlwind of speculation and debate. This conflict of information not only raised questions about the decision-making process in the fight but also highlighted the crucial role of accurate medical reporting in the sport.
Let’s now see what Ortiz Jr. had to say in his post-match interview.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. on the fans’ thirst for ‘Ugly stuff’
Ortiz Jr., fresh from his controversial victory, opened up about the nature of boxing and what truly captivates fans. “This is a sport where we want to prove that we are the best; that we are the strongest, we are the best fighters,” Ortiz stated, emphasizing the fighter’s mindset. He expressed a bold readiness to face anyone, anywhere, specifically mentioning WBO Light middleweight champion Tszyu: “I will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. So, if we got to go to Australia, I am down.”
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Delving deeper into his recent bout, Ortiz remarked, “Fans watch boxing to see the knockouts – to see the ugly stuff”. He implied that his victory was imminent, suggesting the referee’s intervention saved Lawson from an inevitable knockout. This insight into Ortiz’s perspective sheds light on the raw appeal of boxing and hints at his future ambitions in the ring.
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As we ponder the implications of these revelations, it prompts us to question the delicate balance between safety and spectacle in boxing. Are early stoppages a necessary precaution? Or do they rob fighters and fans of a conclusive battle? What do you think is the right approach in such high-stakes situations?
Watch this story: Event Recap: Best Fights From Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Egidijus Kavaliauskas
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