CHAOS erupted in the Dominican Republic as a referee was swarmed and ferociously attacked, moments before getting lobbed out the ring at a terrific pace.
The stunning incident took place in Santo Domingo, where bantamweight operators Marcelino Nieves and Norbelto Jimenez headlined a Shuan Boxing show last Saturday.
Nieves, who was returning from a 18-month layoff, boasts an unbeaten record, with the fight against Jiminez representing his third 10-round contest.
But during the event, proceedings were far from parliamentary as an infuriated group took its anger out on the referee, seemingly over his performance in an undercard bout.
Regardless of their motives, though, the pack of brawlers put the helpless official on the receiving end of a punishing beatdown, before flinging him through the ropes.
In response, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has taken to social media, condemning the shocking turn of events while also promising to investigate the actions of those responsible.
He wrote on X yesterday: “This is a brutal, unacceptable [and] cowardly attack on a referee in [the] Dominican Republic. The WBC has appointed a committee to investigate as [these] actions cannot be left unnoticed.”
Sulaiman has come under fire in recent weeks over his decision to sanction a showdown between WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios and Manny Pacquiao.
Based largely on eight-division champion Pacquiao’s exhibition with a Japanese kickboxer last year, many feel that his return is both unsafe and irresponsible.
Nevertheless, it would appear that the Filipino icon, who is now ranked number five by the WBC, is set to face Barrios on July 19.
For Sulaiman, meanwhile, his latest activity on social media would indicate that he does, in fact, have the ability to identify areas where the sport could be improved.
