A few months after a controversial disqualification of Jose Uzcategui against Andre Dirrell in May, the Maryland State Athletic commission has now upheld referee Bill Clancy’s decision to disqualify Uzcategui for a late punch that left Dirrell unable to continue in the fight. ESPN reports that the comission held a hearing review the disqualification of Uzcategui on Wednesday in Baltimore and the commission voted 3-1 (with one commission member being absent) in favor of upholding the ruling. "The Maryland State Athletic Commission conducted a hearing regarding a protest of the referee's decision made in the May 20, 2017 world title match between boxers Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui. After hearing expert testimony, the commission upheld the call of referee Bill Clancy," commission spokeswoman Theresa M. Blaner said in a statement given to ESPN. "The commission's written determination will be issued within the next month." It seems that the deciding factor in this incident was the fact that the referee had previously warned Uzcategui for hitting after the bell earlier in the fight, which led the referee to believe the ultimate blow ending the fight at the end of the eighth round was intentional, even if he was in the midst of throwing a combination. What would transpire after that late punch and disqualification, as you can see above, was nothing short of a disaster. Andre Dirrell’s uncle and trainer, Leon Lawson Jr., would enter the ring and sneak up on Uzcategui only to unload a left hook on him while he wasn’t looking. It was unconscionable. And in the midst of all the confusion and the resulting fracas, Lawson managed to leave the state while local police were looking for him. Lawson would be hit with a second degree assault charge and would eventually turn himself in, and he now has a scheduled trial to begin on Nov. 16. It is expected, however, that Lawson and the district attorney’s office will reach a plea bargain deal that could see Lawson spend at least some time in jail. So despite how unfortunate things might’ve worked out for Uzcategui here, the good news is that the IBF doesn’t agree with the Maryland Commission’s ruling — criticizing the referee’s handling of the fight — and have therefore ordered an immediate rematch between Uzcategui and Dirrell. Uzcategui’s advisor Sean Gibbons hopes the rematch can been settled for December. "We came to the state of Maryland on May 20 to challenge for [an interim] world title, and Uzcategui got assaulted that night, and we came back for this hearing and we were assaulted again -- by the commission, by Clancy, by the attorney general's office and Dirrell's attorney," Gibbons said, noting that in around 300 amateur bouts and 28 pro fights Uzcategui had never had a point deducted for a foul. "They were all going after us for an unintentional foul. It felt like they showed up to go to war instead of having a nice civil hearing to show that Uzcategui never tried to do anything intentional." Uzcategui will officially keep the DQ loss on his record, but it seems that he will have a shot at retribution — hopefully between the bells — in the near future.
Knock him out again, and then send for his uncle then stamp on his uncles head a few times. Is the justice served.
What a useless commission. Upholding the DQ means they accept that Uzcategui intentionally or flagrantly hit him after the bell, and it should be obvious to any unbiased observer that he didn't. It shouldn't matter that the ref previously gave him a routine warning. You wouldn't DQ someone after a second accidental low blow. It should've been ruled like a bad but unintentional nuts shot, with Dirrell being required to get up by 5 minutes or he loses by knockout. Dirrell only started playing up that he was badly hurt because he wasn't told 'accidental foul, you got five minutes', and he knew he wasn't going to take a loss if he said he couldn't continue. Justice won't be served if Uzcategui kicks his ass in the rematch, it's an injustice that Dirrell and his family are given the right to make a payday on the result of that fight.
They should have shown some more of Dirrell's tricks in previous fights! I hope the fight will not take place in Maryland again and the damned referee is a damned crook! Just another example of another corrupt boxing commission and referee! It was clear that the late punch was in motion "before" the bell ran, it was unintentional unlike Rigo's late punch, not to mention the holding and hitting, Bob Bennett lied live on HBO, that dirty SOB!
I love the point in the video where Dirrell is about to get up but his corner starts yelling and waving at him so he lays back down.
Yes, the referee told him to stay down and he would call the fight off and give it to him! Remember that?! I hope the rematch is not in Maryland with a criminal referee and boxing commission. I am excited about the Golovkin Vs. Alvarez fight, but am afraid, not of Alvarez, but the criminal judges, referee, boxing commission, etc.,that's my only worry! It's a shame boxing is crooked. Might as well watch WWE! Well, Void/Conor fight "was" WWE!
