THE IBF INTERIM super middleweight title fight between Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui in Maryland ended in highly controversial circumstances on Saturday, as the latter was disqualified before being punched in the face by Dirrell’s uncle and trainer.
Venezuelan Uzcategui had already been warned for landing a shot after the bell earlier in the fight when he repeated the offence in round eight, flooring Dirrell with the last strike of a three-punch combination.
Referee Bill Clancy ruled that Dirrell was unable to continue and disqualified Uzcategui, but further drama soon followed.
Amid significant anger from the Dirrell camp, his cornerman Leon Lawson Jr approached Uzcategui and threw a sickening sucker-punch that landed flush on the 26-year-old’s chin.
Showtime host Jim Gray reported that Lawson Jr was being sought by police in connection with the incident, while Dirrell issued an apology for his uncle’s actions.
“I’m very apologetic for what my coach has done. But he loves me. That’s my man, that’s my uncle, that’s my brother, that’s my coach. He cares about my well-being first,” the American told CBS Sports.
“I don’t understand why he did that because, like I said, I feel fine. But this is just the way the cards is dealt sometimes. I have to deal with this, Jose has to deal with this loss and my uncle has to deal with whatever you have to do to him on the board. But please forgive him.”
Reflecting on the punch that resulted in Uzcategui’s disqualification, Dirrell added: “All I heard was the bell and me going down. But I forgive Uzcategui with all my heart. I don’t want to win a championship like this.”
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What a left hook
@Joe Bloggs: what a chin
I watched this live. The punch from Uzcategui was after the bell. Dirrell himself showed allot class and sportsmanship, approaching Uzcategui to say he forgave him. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for Dirrell’s corner. They started a fight at ringside and then when they eventually got in the ring Dirrell’s uncle carried out this cowardly attack on Uzcategui.
Hopefully he was arrested immediate after and charged with assault.
@SYM-Metal: UPDATE: There is an official police report filed. Mr Leon Lawson is wanted on 2 counts of assault in the 1st and 2nd degree,by the state of Maryland.
Mr Lawson was not arrested at the scene and is still at large. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
@SYM-Metal: The bell went when he was swinging. Fair enough it did connect after which is illegal but I don’t think it was 100% intentional.
As for Andre Dirrell, the guy has absolutely no balls whatsoever. It’s sickening how much of a quitter he is. Absolute play acting pretending he couldn’t continue as he knew he had a chance of a DQ win if he quit, it wasn’t as if he was caught with a sucker punch, they were still fighting. He was even getting up and decided to go back down. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt had he not done something similar against Arthur Abraham.
As for his uncle that was despicable, kind of funny I can’t lie, but horrible.
@SYM-Metal: I thought it was marginal if it was late. I think the refs positioning was poor in that situation with dirrell being backed in the corner and uzcategui letting his hands go with the round almost over the ref should have been right on the action,instead of a few yards away. A fighter in the mode of a combo is unlikely to just be able tot stop it when he is already in motion, talking about milliseconds in this instance.
@Seamus Cummins: you could hear Dirrell’s corner telling him to stay down
DJ Khaled should have done more to prevent that
Classy stuff.
Uncle Bam
Poor Dirrell can never catch a break.
@Leon: I think he’s the one catching the breaks and making the most of them.