Two weeks after his post fight sucker punch nearly incited a riot inside the ring, Leon Lawson Jr., the uncle and trainer of Andre Dirrell, has agreed to turn himself in on Friday.
Lawson, of Flint, Michigan, is wanted in Prince George's County of Maryland on two felony assault charges in connection with his attack on Dirrell's opponent, Jose Uzcategui, after their IBF super middleweight title bout ended via disqualification. Referee Bill Clancy stopped the bout after Uzcategui connected with a punch after the bell to end Round 10, knocking Dirrell out.
Dirrell's brothers, Willie and former 168-pound titleholder Anthony, were restrained at ringside from attacking Uzcategui's team after the bout. But Lawson walked over to the native of Colombia in his corner and blindly attacked him with a two-punch combination, which included a left hand that landed firmly on Uzcategui's chin.
Lawson immediately left the arena after the attack before local police could question him and hadn't been heard from in the weeks that followed.
In addition to being banned in recent days by both the WBC and WBA, Lawson was suspended indefinitely by the Maryland State Athletic Commission for his action in the May 20 bout that took place at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill.
Warrants were issued against Lawson last week, according to his attorney, and the trainer will appear in Prince George's County District Court on Friday. If convicted, Lawson faces up to 25 years in prison.
"It's important to understand that Mr. Lawson has not been on the run, but rather his attorneys have been negotiating with the authorities in Maryland to have a voluntary turn in," Lawson's attorney, Frank J. Manley, told MLive.com, which first reported the news. "He looks forward to resolving this matter."
In an exclusive interview with The Ring, Dirrell spoke about his uncle's actions.
"[Lawson is] just a really, really loyal guy, man," Dirrell said. "He saw my kids crying and it happened to me before with Arthur Abraham and he was fed up. It happens to me in sparring often because [fighters] can't get off like they want to."
Dirrell, who immediately after the fight said he forgave Uzcategui for the illegal punch, remains remorseful that the situation played out the way it did.
"I want to say to Uzcategui and his camp that I'm extremely apologetic from the bottom of my heart," Dirrell said. "No fighter deserves that, especially the vulnerable state that he was in. I don't agree with my uncle's actions. It bothered me very much, and it bothers me to this day."
Lawson's Maryland suspension, which was first reported by ESPN, is an administrative one and not a medical suspension. The distinction means that other states could still technically give Lawson a license to work in the corner for a fight. Under federal law, commission must honor state medical suspensions.
"The action was taken as a result of Mr. Lawson punching professional boxer Jose Uzcategui in the face following the conclusion of the boxing contest between Mr. Uzcategui and Andre Dirrell," Maryland State Athletic Commission Executive Director Patrick Pannella said in a statement given to ESPN. "The Maryland State Athletic Commission's suspension of Mr. Lawson was issued on an indefinite basis. The commission is continuing its investigation and takes this matter very seriously."
