“What’s the ref doing?!” – Commentator shocked by referee’s moves during boxing match
Boxing fans and the media were shocked by the referee’s decisions during a fight in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, called Chaos in the Ring, was shown on DAZN and included seven boxing matches. One of the fights was between former British super lightweight champion Samuel Antwi and Nigeria’s Suleiman Jafaru.
Near the end of the sixth round, Jafaru, in black trunks, caught Antwi against the ropes and hit him hard with a left hook to the side of his head. Antwi fell to the ground, and Jafaru celebrated, thinking he had won by knockout. At first, Antwi didn’t move, but then he managed to stand up, although he looked clearly dazed and unsteady.
The referee checked on Antwi and decided the fight should go on. Right after, Antwi was backed up against the ropes again, with Jafaru landing more punches to his head. The commentator begged the referee to stop the fight, shouting, “I can’t believe this. No, no… ref, ref, ref! What is the ref doing?”
Eventually, the referee stopped the fight, but many fans felt it should have been done sooner. People also blamed Antwi’s corner for not stopping the fight to protect him. One fan wrote, “The ref is completely wrong but so is his corner. You see your fighter out of it, you throw in the towel.” Another said, “This is just awful. Take the referee’s license away.” Others agreed, calling the referee’s actions dangerous and unacceptable.
After the fight, Antwi posted a message on Instagram thanking everyone for their support. He said both he and his opponent left the ring safely. “In both victory and defeat, God gets the glory!” he wrote. “Thank you, Lord, for the strength to step into the ring. Though I didn’t get the win, I trust You have a bigger plan for me. Calm my heart, ease my disappointment, and help me learn from this moment. I’m grateful that both my opponent and I were safe. I will move forward with dignity and remember that one fight doesn’t define me. Thanks to everyone who checked on me and sent good wishes—I really appreciate you all!”