Veteran boxing referee Tony Weeks is in the spotlight following the recently concluded fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Frederick Lawson, on January 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. The boxing match caused considerable controversy due to what appeared to be an early stoppage by referee Weeks.
While Ortiz won the bout with an emphatic first-round TKO, the victory was overshadowed by Weeks’ alleged early stoppage. For the duration of the fight, Ortiz showed off his ring prowess early in the first round, landing accurate shots on Lawson and systematically breaking down his opponent.
The 25-year-old was on his way to putting the finishing touches on a masterful performance, but the match took an unexpected turn when Tony Weeks stepped in to bring the match to an early end.
After the fight, analysts and boxing fans questioned the referee’s judgment. According to the consensus, Ortiz was denied an opportunity to demonstrate his finishing skills, while Lawson was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself.
Weeks shed light on his decision recently on Facebook, claiming it was influenced by pre-fight reports that Ortiz had undergone a routine brain scan, which unexpectedly found an aneurysm.
A subsequent test produced the same result, causing concern to race officials. Weeks wrote:
“What the public didn’t know was that before the fight he had a brain scan and it turned out he had an aneurysm and they tested again and it showed the same aneurysm.
“They brought in another doctor and he did the same test and it came back negative for the aneurysm, so they cleared him to fight.”
Aneurysm refers to a weakening of an artery wall that creates a bulge or dilation of the artery that often occurs in the aorta or larger vessels such as arteries that supply the brain, back of the knee, intestine, or spleen.
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Tony Weeks Break: Vergil Ortiz Jr. challenges Tim Tszyu to a title match
After his first round TKO victory against Frederick Lawson, Vergil Ortiz Jr. he immediately set his sights on WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.
Paying tribute in the post-fight interview, Ortiz said:
“I’m ready for anybody out there. I feel like I’m back to doing what I normally do. That’s my calling, that’s what I live for. With all due respect, I’d love to fight you. I think you’re a fighter, and let’s do this… I want to fight for the best.”
Tim Tszyu welcomed the idea of fighting Ortiz in the 154-pound division and expressed interest in what he perceives as a “modern classic.”