Longtime boxing referee Tony Weeks came under fire for prematurely stopping the Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Fredrick Lawson boxing match last weekend in Las Vegas. After criticism failed to subside, Weeks claimed — in a now-deleted Facebook post — that he was protecting Lawson after the 34 year-old Ghanaian flunked a pair of pre-fight brain scans.
Weeks also accused Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) of bringing in a second doctor to issue a new (and negative) test, overruling the two previous exams that came before it. Golden Boy Promotions was quick to distance itself from the turmoil with a brief statement, referring all questions to stateside regulators.
“Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned doctor to fight on Saturday night,” Golden Boy wrote in a prepared statement. “All other questions should be referred to NSAC.”
NSAC has yet to comment on the controversy but boxing fans continue to harass Weeks on social media, demanding an explanation for his stoppage, as well as clarification of his commission accusations.
Expect to hear more on this drama in the coming days.