Boxing referee Gary Ritter has been heavily criticised for allowing American super welterweight Eric Walker to continue fighting despite being floored earlier in the fight.
Uzbekistan boxer Israil Madrimov secured a comprehensive win over Walker in the 12-round fight, but it was what happened in the ninth round of the bout in Tulsa, Oklahoma that dominated the commentary afterwards.
When Madrimov sent Walker to the floor with a powerful left hook the referee was expected to call a knockout victory to the man from Uzbekistan.
However, as the 25-year-old began celebrating Ritter surprisingly opted not to call a knockdown because he believed Walker had been pushed to the ground by Madrimov.
What happened next created puzzlement, and then anger among onlookers. After a few minutes Walker, who appeared to be dazed, was allowed to keep fighting.
That resulted in the 37-year-old getting a hiding in the final three rounds, as Madrimov cruised to victory via a unanimous decision (116-110 x 2, 116-111).
Later it was Ritter’s turn to receive some uppercuts in the media as journalists questioned why he allowed the fight to continue, which put Walker at risk of serious injury.
Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix was one of the most outspoken critics of the referee, condemning the “dangerous” decisions on Twitter.
“Brutal referee call. Walker is basically out cold. Referee says it wasn’t a knockdown. Says Madrimov pushed him down. OK,” Mannix tweeted.
“Here’s the bigger problem with this call: Referee can see, even after the bad call, that Walker is knocked out. So he lets him lie on the ground for a minute … then tells him he has five to recover. Dangerous.
“Eric Walker was brave, took an enormous amount of punishment. But he should have been knocked out in the ninth round and then the referee and his corner let him take an absolute beating over the last three. That’s how guys get hurt.
“I can’t get past what I saw in Walker-Madrimov. Boxing was rocked by several in-ring deaths in 2019. A referee let a fight continue after a fighter, Eric Walker, was knocked out. Walker’s corner let it continue. Then he took a brutal beating. We learn nothing. Nothing.”
Andreas Hale, Combat Sports senior editor, was also critical: “Walker got blasted. That was a knockdown. Referee blew this call. Madrimov smashed him with that left hand.
“The referee blew this one. Madrimov just murdered Walker and it’s being called a slip.”
Madrimov remains undefeated after seven professional bouts, while Walker has recorded his third loss after 23 encounters in the ring.
