The Story Of Saturday’s Ortiz-Lawson Stoppage Gets Even Stranger

By: Sean Crose

Virgil Ortiz’ return to the ring towards Fredrick Lawson on Saturday took an odd flip when referee Tony Weeks abruptly stopped the combat. Whereas it was true that Lawson was taking a beating in the mean time, he didn’t seem like a completed man. Even in a sport the place it’s higher to cease a combat too quickly slightly than too late, this one was a little bit of a headscratcher. Lawson, in any case, didn’t appear to be taking the sort of immense punishment that may require the bout to be stopped at that exact second. For sure, followers and analysts alike had been baffled by the result, with a lot ire being directed at Weeks for supposedly stopping the bout too quickly.

“What the general public didn’t know,” the veteran referee subsequently wrote in response to the blistering criticism, “that previous to the combat they did a mind scan on him (Lawson), and it got here up that he had an aneurysm and so they did a take a look at once more and the identical aneurysm got here up, one other physician was introduced in and gave him the identical examination and he examined unfavorable for the aneurysm, so that they cleared him to combat.” This assertion, if true, is actually a recreation changer in that it at the very least considerably vindicates Weeks, in addition to places the Nevada State Athletic Fee underneath the highlight. Is what Weeks stated true although? And is there extra to the state of affairs than he claims?

“Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Fee sanctioned physician to combat on Saturday evening,” Golden Boy Promotions, which promoted the combat, posted. “All different questions ought to be referred to NSAC.” And certainly, a supply at NSAC responded to Boxing Insider by stating merely that Lawson was cleared to combat on Saturday evening. The supply additionally identified that the story entails medical info – not one thing to be handled evenly for each authorized and moral causes. As of press time, Boxing Insider is awaiting a observe up name from the Fee.

Whereas it’s true that Saturday’s bout ended up being clouded by confusion and controversy, there was little question that Ortiz seemed good for the brief period of time he fought (issues didn’t get previous the primary spherical, in any case). An efficient jab, coupled with telling energy photographs and and intuition to carry issues to an early finish (although maybe not was early as they had been) made it unattainable to disclaim the 20-0 Ortiz seemed sharp towards the 30-4 Davis. As issues now stand, Ortiz hopes to get into the ring with spectacular junior middleweight titlist Tim Tszyu.