Boxing is a sport not for the faint-hearted. The intrinsic violence in boxing cannot be ignored, which makes it significantly more difficult than other traditional sports. Moreover, fighters more often than not put their life on the line inside the ring in search of glory and fame. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when some boxers quit during the fights due to exhaustion and fatigue. It was the same case with French heavyweight boxer Newfel Ouatah.

However, the boxer took this a step further after he quit a match just a few seconds into it. A video recently took the internet by storm where Ouatah, who is also a cousin of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, was the center of attention.

The 36-year-old boxer allegedly started protesting at the start of the fight by kneeling and pointing his hand in the air. However, he was punched by his opponent in the face despite protesting before the referee finally called off the match.

This bizarre event sent the fans into a frenzy as they tried to decipher the reasons behind this outlandish act.

Fans react to Newfel Ouatah quitting at the start of a fight

One fan stated that the boxer did this because he wasn’t provided with proper health insurance. He also supported him and agreed with the steps he took.

Another fan doubled down on this claim and asked whether the fighters are properly insured or not.

Moreover, one fan stated that it would have been funny if Ouatah’s opponent was disqualified for punching him while he was down.

Read More: Boxer Floyd Mayweather Is Richer Than the New King of England by a Country Mile

Another fan suggested that he might be bowing to Queen Elizabeth II, who recently passed away, to honor her memory.

One fan hilariously compared Ouatah to a gaming controller that just got disconnected.

However, one fan was very curious to know the reason and suggested that it might have been a blown knee or some financial issue.

Lastly, a fan pointed out that Ouatah shouldn’t have signed the contract if he was going to protest during the fight.

At the time, it was unclear why Newfel Ouatah protested at the start of the fight. However, the French boxer took to social media to clarify that the reason he protested was indeed insurance coverage. Ouatah has called out his local commission, stating that they refused to cover any injuries he could have potentially suffered in the fight.

What did you think about this bizarre protest? Let us know in the comments.

WATCH THIS STORY: Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua Trilogy & Other Potential Opponents for Andy Ruiz Jr. Following Magnificent Victory Over Luiz Ortiz