The Nevada State Athletic Commission has rejected boxing referee Tony Weeks’ claim that a brain aneurism was discovered in boxer Frederick Lawson prior to his defeat on Saturday to rising welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
In a since-deleted social media post, Weeks remarkably claimed that Lawson may have had an aneurysm, which led the long-time referee to prematurely stop Saturday night’s fight.
‘On January 6, 2024, a contest was held between Vergil Ortiz and Fredick Lawson in Las Vegas, Nevada,’ read Monday’s statement from the commission. ‘The Contest was under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The health and safety of the unarmed combatants that compete in the State are paramount to the Commission. All contestants in the event were subject to full medical examinations and were cleared by medical experts to compete without restrictions.
‘The Commission and its Executive Director will continue its ongoing practice of reviewing its official’s performance during and after an event.’
Weeks faced criticism over his questionable stoppage but defended himself on social media Sunday.
Referee Tony Weeks has faced criticism for the questionable stoppage on Saturday
The Nevada State Athletic Commission has rejected boxing referee Tony Weeks’ claim
Vergil Ortiz Jr. was credited with a first-round stoppage win against Fredrick Lawson
Weeks took to social media to remarkably claim that Lawson may have has an aneurysm
In a now-deleted Facebook post, the referee claimed that Lawson had tested positive for a brain aneurysm before the fight, which prompted him to call the stoppage.
‘What the public didn’t know that prior to the fight they did a brain scan on him,’ Weeks said.
‘[I]t came up that he had an aneurysm, and they did a test again and the same aneurysm came up. Another doctor was brought in and gave him the same examination and he tested negative for the aneurysm, so they cleared him to fight.’
DAZN’s Beto Duran said, via Boxing Scene, post-fight that Weeks told him that he saw Lawson’s eyes roll back while under attack by Ortiz, which prompted him to stop the fight.
Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya’s firm, responded to the 30-year ring official’s claims, denying them in a brief statement.
‘Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned doctor to fight on Saturday night,’ Golden Boy said. ‘All other questions should be referred to NSAC [Nevada State Athletic Commission].’
Weeks previously came under fire for halting Rolando Romero-Ismael Barroso in May 2023
Just minutes into the fight, Ortiz caught Lawson with a stiff jab before trapping him against the ropes and unloading.
Weeks then jumped in to halt the bout, believing Lawson had failed to defend himself from further damage intelligently.
Saturday night wasn’t the first time Weeks has come under fire for a poor stoppage as he halted a world title bout between Rolando Romero and Ismael Barroso.
In round nine, Weeks stopped the bout in favor of Romero, who was behind on points, when both men were in the process of exchanging.