Boxing has long been called the theater of the bizarre and Saturday's interim super middleweight title bout between Andre Dirrell (26-2, 16 KOs) and Jose Uzcategui (26-2, 22 KOs) did nothing to contradict.
After being warned for hitting after the bell earlier in the fight, Uzcategui committed the same crime again to close Round 8 and floored Dirrell with a three-punch combination. Uzcategui was disqualified by referee Bill Clancy after the ringside doctor ruled Dirrell couldn't continue.
"The bell rang to stop the round. The round was over and Andre was knocked out with an illegal punch," Clancy said. "So therefore, Andre will win the fight by disqualification. Clearly the punch knocked him unconscious. He was unconscious. We were not going to the scorecards."
That's when things got crazy.
Members of Dirrell's family, including his younger brother, Anthony Dirrell, a former 168-pound titlist, were detained by security at ringside while attempting to attack members of Uzcategui's team. A brawl appeared on the verge of breaking out until cooler heads prevailed.
But moments later, members of Dirrell's team were allowed into the ring and his uncle, cornerman Leon Lawson Jr., approached Uzcategui in the corner and assaulted him with a vicious left hook to the chin. A brief melee ensued as the crowd booed and Uzcategui was escorted back to the locker room for his own safety.
Showtime's Jim Gray reported that Maryland police were searching for Lawson after the fight with plans on arresting him. Police were also investigating surveillance tape around Anthony Dirrell's actions. Uzcategui, meanwhile, was sequestered backstage and kept in seclusion by authorities.
"If that's why y'all are booing, I'm sorry," Dirrell said to the crowd. "I'm very apologetic for what my coach has done. But he loves me. That's my man, that's my uncle, that's my brother, that's my coach. He cares about my well being first.
"I don't understand why he did that because, like I said, I feel fine. But this is just the way the cards is dealt sometimes. I have to deal with this, Jose has to deal with this loss and my uncle has to deal with whatever you have to do to him on the board. But please forgive him."
The bizarre ending for Andre Dirrell, who captured the interim IBF title with the victory, was eerily reminiscent of his 2010 victory over Arthur Abraham in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. Abraham hit Dirrell with a blatantly illegal shot while he was down on one knee. The injuries sustained from the punch set back Dirrell's career as he fought just once over the next three years due to a myriad of issues.
"I'm not even thinking about Abraham, I already forgave him," Dirrell said. "This is life. This is just how it goes. I didn't want to win a championship like this, I wanted to win it the right way."
After the bell ended to close Round 8, Uzcategui was still in motion of attempting a three-punch combination. The final punch, a short left hand, landed flush to the side of Dirrell's face and sent him face-first to the canvas.
"All I heard was the bell and me going down," Dirrell said. "But I forgive Uzcagetgui with all my heart. I don't want to win a championship like this. F--- everybody that's booing. They ain't s--- for that. But everybody that's concerned about my health, I love you all and I appreciate it.
"But I do want to say this: I love Uzcategui and I love his camp."
