Referee Dan Miragliotta has spoken out for the first time since his controversial stoppage of the Frank Mir vs. Kubrat Pulev bout at Triller Triad Combat this past weekend in Texas.
Mir was making his second career boxing appearance after losing to Steve Cunningham on the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren card earlier this year. He earned a main event spot on the Triller Triad Combat card against Pulev, but it didn’t go his way.
Just seconds into the fight, Pulev caught Mir with a big right hand that had him wobbled against the ropes. Somehow, Mir was able to stay on his feet, but he was completely off balance and wobbly.
After remaining stagnant in the corner, Mir failed to put his hands back up and Miragliotta put a stop to the fight, prompting an odd stoppage from Miragliotta.
Check out the moment below.
Pulev’s round 1 TKO on Frank Mir, wtf was the ref doing
pic.twitter.com/Sp38cHvt0w
— BoxingExclusive (@BoxingExclusive) November 28, 2021
Frank Mir’s Fighting Future Is Uncertain
“I was waiting for Pulev to come in,” Miragliotta said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “That would have made it so much easier for me because as soon as he would have made one step as if he was attacked, I was in a position with my left shoulder and the left side of my body to bump him, push him out, and stop the fight. But he didn’t engage – he backed off, and that’s why I kept watching Mir.”
“Then Mir didn’t go down and didn’t put his hands back up – as soon as Pulev made that slight step, I stepped in and stopped the fight. It was easy,” Miragliotta explained.
It’s unclear what could be next for the 42-year-old Mir, whether that be in the boxing ring or in MMA. He’s still looking for his first win in boxing after dropping two straight.
What were your thoughts on the Frank Mir stoppage at the recent Triad Combat event?