Fans watched in surprise as Referee Tony Weeks stepped in just 2 minutes and 30 seconds into a fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Frederick Lawson. Before Saturday night, Ortiz Jr. had secured all 19 of his welterweight victories by stoppage. Now, he has notched his first stoppage in the junior middleweight division as well. Making his comeback to the ring at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and live on DAZN, Ortiz achieved a first-round TKO against Fredrick Lawson. Ortiz, aged 25, surprised Lawson with a powerful jab to the temple, followed by a relentless barrage of unanswered shots.

Weeks intervened and halted the fight. The referee later explained to DAZN’s Beto Duran that he decided to halt the fight when he observed Lawson’s eyes roll back. He further elaborated on the reason behind his action.

Tony Weeks reveals Frederick Lawson’s brain aneurysm reports

Fans were not happy with his untimely decision. However, according to the referee, he had a genuine reason behind stepping in. He claimed that Lawson had a brain scan before stepping into the fight which showed that he had an aneurysm. However, when the test was done a second time with a different doctor, it came out negative.

“Another doctor was brought in and he gave him the same examination and he tested negative for aneurysm, so they cleared him to fight.” said Weeks. Putting the information together, when Weeks saw that Lawson’s aneurysm could get worse, he figured it was time to step in. Though both fans and Ortiz wanted the fight a last a little longer, the victor made peace with the decision and moved on to his next target.

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What is next for Vergil Ortiz?

In his significant return to the 147lbs division, after the Dallas native dominated Frederick Lawson, he now eyes a showdown with Tim Tszyu for the WBO super welterweight title. In an interview, Ortiz emphasized the essence of boxing as a sport to prove one’s strength and skill, expressing his willingness to face any opponent, including Tszyu, even in Australia. “I will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. So, if we got to go to Australia, I am down,” said Ortiz

Read More: “Ultra-Quick Stoppage by Tony Weeks”: Pros Reacts to ‘Worst’ Referee Decision in Vergil Ortiz Jr Vs Fredrick Lawson Fight

Reflecting on his fight against Lawson, Ortiz admitted anticipating a conclusive end due to his dominance, crediting the referee for potentially saving Lawson from a severe knockout.  Meanwhile, Tszyu has responded to Ortiz’s victory, indicating his readiness for the potential matchup.

It is a thin line that referees walk on. While fans may not be aware of the tiny details, in the fight, the one monitoring the fight closely has a chance to be misunderstood. However, do you think Weeks was correct in his place? Or was the stoppage unnecessary?

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