Referee Tony Weeks’ brain aneurysm claim following Ortiz vs. Lawson, Golden Boy Promotions responds

Tom Gray

Referee Tony Weeks’ brain aneurysm claim following Ortiz vs. Lawson, Golden Boy Promotions responds image

On Saturday, controversy erupted following referee Tony Weeks’ premature stoppage of the Vergil Ortiz-Fredrick Lawson super welterweight bout in Las Vegas.

The post-fight aftermath just got even more controversial.

Weeks, who boasts an esteemed 30-year career in Nevada, jumped in as Ortiz trapped his man against the ropes and unloaded with both hands. However, Lawson still seemed more than capable of defending himself when the bout was called off at 2:33 of the opening round. Understandably, the crowd who had paid hard-earned money for a fight booed incessantly and criticism erupted online.

MORE: Vergil Ortiz Jr stops Fredrick Lawson in round one

In response, Weeks took to social media on Sunday evening and made an astonishing claim.

“What the public didn’t know that prior to the fight they did a brain scan on [Lawson], and it came up that he had an aneurysm” stated Weeks via his Facebook page. “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.”

Referee Tony Week's controversial FB post 1
Facebook

The post has since been deleted, but in the screenshot/social media world we live in, that doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference. The allegation was halfway around the boxing world by the time it was removed.

Hours later, Golden Boy Promotions, who presented the DAZN televised event, issued a brief press release.

“Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned doctor to fight on Saturday night,” was the short and sweet response.

“All other questions should be referred to NSAC.”

MORE: Tim Tszyu responds to Vergil Ortiz Jr’s call out after his TKO win

The situation might very well be unprecedented and certainly merits a full investigation.

This isn’t Weeks’ first brush with controversy. In May of last year, the Brooklyn-born referee inexplicably jumped in to halt a world title bout between Rolando Romero and Ismael Barroso. In round nine, Weeks stopped the bout in favour of Romero, who was behind on points, when both men were in the process of exchanging. It has been called one of the worst stoppages in world championship history.

Tom Gray

Tom Gray Photo

Tom Gray joined The Sporting News in 2022 after over a decade at Ring Magazine where he served as managing editor. Tom retains his position on The Ring ratings panel and is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.