Uzcategui DQ Upheld; Rematch Ordered

The Maryland State Athletic Commission has upheld referee Bill Clancy’s decision to disqualify Jose Uzcategui for an after-the-bell punch that left opponent Andre Dirrell unable to continue their IBF Interim Super Middleweight Title bout back on May 20.

A hearing on the disqualification ruling was held on Wednesday, with the commission voting 3-1 (with one commission member absent) to uphold the ruling.

“The Maryland State Athletic Commission conducted a hearing regarding a protest of the referee’s decision made in the May 20, 2017 world title match between boxers Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui. After hearing expert testimony, the commission upheld the call of referee Bill Clancy,” commission spokeswoman Theresa M. Blaner said in a statement. “The commission’s written determination will be issued within the next month.”

Clancy previously warned Uzcategui of late hits earlier in the fight, and that what may have led to the commission’s upholding of Clancy’s ruling. The controversy in this, however, comes with that Uzcategui was in the middle of throwing a combination and was unable to stop before the bell.

Following the post-bell knockout, madness ensued in the ring, with Dirrell’s uncle and trainer, Leon Lawson Jr., sucker punching Uzcategui. Lawson managed to leave the state, with police on a search for him. Lawson was charged with second-degree assault, and a trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 16. It’s expected a plea deal will be reached that sees Lawson spend some time in jail.

The good news for Uzcategui comes with that while the DQ loss will remain on his record, the IBF disagrees wth the commission and has ordered a rematch between him and Dirrell.

Uzcategui’s advisor, Sean Gibbons, said that in about 300 amateur bouts and 28 pro bouts, Uzcategui had never been deducted a point for a foul. He hopes the Dirrell-Uzcategui rematch can take place towards the end of this year.

“We came to the state of Maryland on May 20 to challenge for [an interim] world title, and Uzcategui got assaulted that night, and we came back for this hearing and we were assaulted again — by the commission, by Clancy, by the attorney general’s office and Dirrell’s attorney,” Gibbons said. “They were all going after us for an unintentional foul. It felt like they showed up to go to war instead of having a nice civil hearing to show that Uzcategui never tried to do anything intentional.”

Original story: Bad Left Hook