Crawford and Bradley Question Controversial Fundora Stoppage
Terence Crawford and Tim Bradley object to the late stoppage that gave Sebastian Fundora a TKO over Ermal Hadribeaj.
Sebastian Fundora's title defense last Saturday ended with a TKO, but the way it happened has some of boxing's biggest names calling foul.
Terence Crawford and Tim Bradley both objected to the stoppage during a post-fight discussion. Fundora halted Ermal Hadribeaj in the final seconds of their WBC junior middleweight title fight in Las Vegas, but Hadribeaj appeared able to continue and had beaten the count. The dispute centers on the fact that the final bell had already sounded when the referee waved it off.
The referee defended his decision, saying he stepped in because Hadribeaj had fallen back into the ropes and another attack would have left him in serious trouble. "If there's five seconds left, that guy gets destroyed," the referee said. Critics argue those five seconds did not exist because the fight was already over.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael weighed in on X, writing that Hadribeaj "BEAT THE COUNT and the bell had already rung." Rafael urged Hadribeaj's team to file a formal protest with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and predicted the NSAC would change the result to a unanimous decision.
No official action from the NSAC has been announced. Fundora retains the WBC junior middleweight title for now, but the controversy clouds what should have been a clean defense.
The result carries real stakes for Hadribeaj. A stoppage loss on his record is far more damaging than a decision defeat when it comes to future opportunities and negotiating leverage. The previously unbeaten Hadribeaj's team has every reason to push the commission for a review.
I watched that ending live and I am still shaking my head. You cannot stop a fight after the bell rings. That is not how boxing works. Hadribeaj beat the count, the round was over, and the referee decided to play hero anyway.
Crawford saw it. Bradley saw it. Dan Rafael saw it. The only person who did not seem to see it was the guy with the power to wave it off. The referee's excuse that Hadribeaj would have been destroyed with five more seconds does not hold up when those five seconds literally did not exist.
Hadribeaj's team needs to be at the NSAC office first thing Monday morning. If the commission does not overturn this to a decision, they are telling every fighter in Nevada that a ref can stop your fight after the bell because of what might have happened. That is a dangerous precedent. Fundora is a real talent who did not need the help.
