The Canelo-Crawford event is halfway through. Christian M’billi is trying to fend off a blistering attack from Lester Martinez. But controversy seems to have marked its presence on the card, which came under scrutiny for being top-heavy. It erupted during the six-round middleweight fight between Olympian and Canelo stablemate Marco Verde and Sona Akale. The bout ended in a fourth-round stoppage victory for the Mexican. But the way the curtains fell when referee Mark Nelson waved his hands has sparked a heated debate.

Marco Verde, a 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist, turned professional early this year. He stepped into the fight against Sona Akale, who gained prominence after handing Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, his first career loss two years ago, with two consecutive wins. Verde entered the fight as the heavy favorite. Still, the final decision left many flabbergasted. UFC Fight Pass broadcaster Ben Davis voiced one of the sharpest reactions.

The ref pulled the plug too soon!

“Ya that might be the worst stoppage of all time,” Davis wrote in response to a Ring Magazine post featuring Verde-Akale fight footage. Soon after Nelson stopped the fight, Akale launched a wild protest. “Oh my god. What are you doing? “What is that?” he shouted while walking around the ring.

To be fair to Verde, he appeared ahead on the scorecards of all three judges. He controlled and dominated the bout from the opening bell. The Minnesota-born Akale had no answers to the young Mexican southpaw’s crosses and hooks.

“We had a strategy to finish the fight, but it happened that way. I’m very happy. This is what I am looking for, to have more experience and take it all the way to the top,” Marco Verde remarked later. It must be noted that Sona Akale was a last-minute replacement for the matchup.

It marked a third straight loss for the 37-year-old. Still, reactions were sharp as the footage of the stoppage and Akale’s protest gained traction.

Fans cry foul over questionable finish

It appears to this fan the decision was nothing short of a ‘robbery.’ “Just absolutely stealing someone’s potential win purse,” they said. It may appear so. But one should go through the full fight before jumping to conclusions. In the second round, Verde’s left hook and right cross knocked out Akale’s mouthpiece, and referee Nelson had to halt the fight to retrieve it.

The next fan seemed to agree with Akale’s reaction. “I would have started throwing at the ref,” they said. It was a natural reaction for someone who has been through a rough patch of late. However, one should also understand the match official’s concerns. Fighter safety comes first and foremost.

A few nonetheless agreed with Mark Nelson’s decision. One user remarked, “Nope, it was a great stoppage; he was taking too much damage but was too tough to give up.” That’s how the fight played out. Sona Akale was visibly shaken and unable to offer resistance.

Another stark reminder followed: “He did nothing except eat blows for 3 rounds.”

The mocking of the referee’s decision, however, prevailed. “Man, that makes the stoppages from the last Wilder and Tony Ferguson fights look like murders. Was the guy who got “stopped” even on the defensive? 😭,” one follower pointed out. That could be a perspective. However, Akale barely looked like he was fighting on the defensive.

Perhaps opinions will continue to fall on either side of the fence, even after the event is over.

But in the end, it’s boxing. There’s only one winner. Yet victory should not come at the cost of debilitating injury. Considering Akale’s age, it may have been a prudent decision given the number of fights he may still have left in the tank.

What about you? Did you see the match? Do you agree with the referee’s decision?