A controversial referee stoppage during the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford event has ignited a firestorm of criticism from mixed martial arts enthusiasts. The incident was captured on video, and has many questioning the integrity of professional boxing.
The incident occurred when referee Mark Nelson halted the middleweight bout between Marco Verde and Sona Akale at 1:11 of the fourth round at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Verde is a 2024 Olympics silver medalist from Mexico, and had been dominating the contest from the opening bell. However, the timing of the stoppage has drawn intense scrutiny from combat sports fans.
Akale’s visible frustration was evident as he paced around the ring, audibly expressing his disbelief: “Oh my god. What are you doing? What is that?” The boxer’s reaction resonated with viewers who felt the intervention was premature, particularly given that the bout was scheduled for six rounds.
Social media erupted with accusations of manipulation, as UFC fans voiced their suspicions about the sport’s credibility. One user bluntly stated, “Boxing is a rigged sport.” Another declared it “unwatchable accept for the odd super fight.”
The sentiment was echoed by numerous others who characterized the decision as “horrible” and “the worst I’ve seen.”
The criticism extended beyond the specific stoppage, with some fans using the incident to highlight perceived differences between boxing and mixed martial arts. “Why boxing is the worst. MMA for the win,” wrote one fan.
However, opinions remained divided among combat sports enthusiasts. Some defended the referee’s decision, arguing that Akale was absorbing significant punishment throughout the contest.
“Not in this case, ol buddy was getting his a*s beat something serious, I’m surprised it wasn’t stopped earlier,” one supporter commented. Another noted that the fighter “had no path to victory” and suggested the official “saved his a*s.”
Verde’s dominant performance, which included dropping Akale in the second round with a combination capped by a “head-rattling right hook,” had seemingly put the outcome beyond doubt well before the stoppage.
Despite the post-bout controversy, Verde remained focused on his trajectory in the sport. “We had a strategy to finish the match, but it happened that way,” the 23-year-old from Mazatlan explained. “I’m very happy. This is what I am looking for, to have more experience and take it all the way to the top.”
