Wild scenes as Aussie fighter thrown out of ring

2 years ago 90

Australian boxer Stevie Spark has scored the biggest triumph of his career, but it came successful the astir bizarre circumstances.

The 26-year-old from Toowoomba flew to Cleveland to instrumentality connected antecedently unbeaten American pugilist Montana Love for the WBA Intercontinental ace lightweight title.

Love was the short-priced favourite and the fashionable prime to bushed Spark, who lost to Tim Tszyu past year aft famously stepping up to regenerate Michael Zerafa successful that bout astatine the past minute.

But it was Spark who did the aboriginal harm connected Sunday, dropping Love successful the 2nd round.

Spark was believed to beryllium winning the combat erstwhile successful the sixth circular helium collided heads with Love, and the American had to beryllium checked by the ringside doctor arsenic the combat was paused.

It was erstwhile the combat resumed successful the sixth circular that Love bizarrely hugged Spark and pushed him backmost onto the ropes, past the Aussie was lifted and fell retired of the ring.

The referee stopped the combat and disqualified Love, handing triumph to Spark.

Love was intelligibly filthy astatine the decision.

"It was a atrocious judgement telephone tonight," Love said afterwards.

"The combat was conscionable getting started. It turned into a dogfight similar we expected. Obviously the referee didn't fto it get to that point.

"He conscionable made a speedy decision. It was amateur hour.

Fight promoter Eddie Hearn was arsenic dismayed, and helium got into the ringing to dependable his frustration.

"I didn't request to spot it again, it happened close successful beforehand of me," Hearn said.

"It was a unspeakable determination from the referee. He acted overmuch excessively quickly.

"It was a infinitesimal of 20 to 30 seconds of madness from the headbutt suffered to Montana , the doc coming successful - I don't know, everyone looked mislaid successful the determination making process.

"The combat started again... Montana was rough, helium decidedly pushed Stevie Spark back. He didn't prime him up, helium didn't propulsion him implicit the ropes.

"And by the way, recognition to Stevie Spark, due to the fact that erstwhile helium fell retired of the ringing helium got consecutive backmost up to get backmost successful the ring... a batch of radical would person taken a mode out. Steve wanted a existent fight, and it was turning into a existent fight.

"The referees person got to halt making these speedy decisions similar this. They person a pugnacious job, but that was a mediocre decision.

"We'll person to talk to the commission, I cognize Montana volition privation to entreaty to the commission."

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