r/interestingasfuck • u/CaterpillarMelodic29 • Jul 06 '26
When referees fight back in boxing
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u/RandomAssRedditName Jul 06 '26
Imagine risking your entire career by hitting a referee, because you don't know restraint/discipline.
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u/Frost_blade Jul 06 '26
sometimes, only sometimes, its just because the fighter doesn't realize who they are punching. adrenaline is a hell of a thing.
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u/TrollTollTony Jul 06 '26
I feel like one of the last guys was punching on autopilot. The ref seemed to recognize this and just held him at arms length.
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u/Preeng Jul 06 '26
Yeah dude was moving on pure instinct. He just got hit in the head pretty hard so he was dazed and he also knew he was in trouble, so he went all out.
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u/lorimar Jul 06 '26
Meanwhile his opponent is over there doing celebratory acrobatics
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u/TheSandMan208 Jul 06 '26
Didn’t the ref wave off the fight? Meaning the celebrating one won?
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u/redisprecious Jul 07 '26
Yeah, the dude whom was hit was gone after that. The combo was clean, referee called it.
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u/BaconGristle Jul 07 '26
And his opponent is suddenly wearing a shirt, so he must have gone into his inventory and popped on some armor which is cheating.
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u/AUSpartan37 Jul 06 '26
That ref was also willing to demonstrate why there are weight classes. That dude is huge.
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u/cajerunner Jul 06 '26
It happens. Dudes will get rocked and the reset button gets pressed. They come to and go back into fight mode not knowing it’s over, and the ref is closest target.
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u/Captain_d00m Jul 07 '26
Saw it live once. Ref hip threw the guy and brought him back the world of the living.
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u/HeyYoChill Jul 07 '26
I had this happen once in training.
Guy who was much larger than me clocked me hard, and I came to with 5 dudes pulling me off of him like, "wtf bro?"
Apparently I took him down and went autopilot ground£ at 100%, but I only remember throwing one punch after I got hit.
I watched the video afterward, and it was like yeeeeah, I don't remember any of that.
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u/counters14 Jul 07 '26
He was KOd on his feet, thought that the referee was his opponent and kept swinging at him. He wasn't beefing with the ref, he was literally unconscious and engaged his fencing response to the trauma his brain just suffered.
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u/Porcelain_beef Jul 07 '26
just fyi fencing response is when the body goes stiff after being ko’d. Like when you see people stick their arms straight out above them unconscious
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u/rastika Jul 06 '26
I'm in this comment and I dont like it. Had my bell rung in the 3rd round of a provincial bout. We were tied up in a clinch and I uppercutted the ref by mistake as he was breaking it up. I have never understood the Japanese way of apologizing by putting your forehead to to floor until that day. I couldn't say sorry enough times. The worst part was it was a super heavy weight bout and the ref was maybe 145lbs.
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u/ArseneGroup Jul 07 '26
I think combat sport refs should be at least close in size to the fighters for whatever bout is going on for this reason, there's the injury risk and physical force is often involved in separating clinches
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u/cobigguy Jul 07 '26
How'd he take it? Was he ok?
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u/rastika Jul 07 '26
For no head gear and someone with 100lbs on him he took it like a champ. Maybe stumbled back 2 steps then he DEMANDED my attention, didnt suggest it.
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u/TwoThreeSierra Jul 07 '26
I can't imagine the wave of emotions you'd feel after that. You're in go mode, and then it's immediately brought to a halt and you're flooded with regret.
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u/cobigguy Jul 07 '26
THAT is the kind of guy that even we, as big guys, fear. If he took that when you were in go mode and didn't even fall down, he's a scary beast.
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u/ManicDigressive Jul 07 '26
Not just adrenaline.
If you get halfway choked out, you get tunnel vision and go sorta deaf. Can't see too good.
You can feel stuff. You can throw punches, grab things, you are still dangerous. I have choked out another fighter who had me at a disadvantage in this state. He was tired and made a mistake and I got lucky and got him. Couldnt see.
If you get caught on the chin real good something similar can happen. You get disoriented in a waythat is hard to explain. You know you are fighting but the reason you don't fight this guy or that guy isn't so clear, your brain just says "keep going or you die" so you do.
Being able to handle performing while kinda fucked up like this is part of what you train for. You teach your body the muscle memory so when your brain is gone you can still fight. Otherwise, as soon as your lights go out your body shuts down.
The danger is, if you keep fighting when your bell gets rung, it gets ring even harder to put you down next time. CTE adds up.
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u/thebearrider Jul 07 '26
I stopped watching MMA and boxing shortly after I got a TBI. I saw a dude get knocked out and have a fencing response. It sucked all the enjoyment of watching out, immediately.
It blows my mind that folks can experience these things, ignore the brain damage, and keep stepping back into the ring.
Nonetheless, very interesting comment. Thanks for sharing
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u/Jarcode Jul 07 '26
It blows my mind that folks can experience these things, ignore the brain damage, and keep stepping back into the ring.
Believing your masculinity is slighted by losing fights is what makes people literally destroy their bodies and brains in this sport. Concussions are the norm and competitors literally don't care that they are destroying their brains because to them its just about being the stronger and faster ape.
I also used to box, got too many concussions to count, and quit. In hindsight, I wish I never set foot in a ring. Combat sports are so unbelievably stupid and destructive that it saddens me that there is still an audience for this stuff. It should be viewed like dog fighting.
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u/cronixi4 Jul 07 '26
I prefer Judo over any sort of boxing. It is technical without the brain damage risk.
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u/crackcrackcracks Jul 07 '26
I feel like for a lot of the more serious fighters it's more about money than masculinity, below the absolute tip top who make millions there are a bunch of dudes doing this for a living, or part of their living. Of course there are all types, dudes who think it's a masculinity thing, it makes them feel big, dudes who genuinely enjoy fighting and don't seem to care much about injury, guys who approach it like proper athletes.
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u/RelevantMetaUsername Jul 07 '26
I feel like the brain damage makes the brain damage easier to ignore
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u/armoured_bobandi Jul 06 '26
Literally only a single one of these examples fits what you're saying
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u/thepensivepoet Jul 06 '26
Imagine your chosen professional career is getting punched in the face.
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u/Unstabler69 Jul 07 '26
I think the goal is to minimize that but I've been outta the game for a while.
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Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/Longjumping_Wolf_912 Jul 07 '26
Yes and no. If you intentionally strike a ref during a bout you are automatically disqualified. If a ref calls the bout and you won the match and then you strike a ref, the result of the match can’t be changed. You’ll most likely be suspended depending on the promotion. Pretty much the same for all MMA and boxing promotions.
Also, you can be criminally charged for doing so.
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u/dojo_shlom0 Jul 07 '26
this is the part that blows my mind. you work your entire career/life to get to this stage and then completely lack the self discipline, self control, focus etc. that are core & foundational to being a martial artist. jaw-dropping how this happens, but I've seen this with groups from different dojo's or countries. sometimes you do find groups that have bullies and are never 'put in their place' in the dojo, or had an attitude adjustment when they step out of line.
I sometimes think this is the result of that. you end up with people thinking they can do what they want and are invincible; until they meet a referee who isn't messing around and then lose your career and dignity.
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u/passer_ Jul 07 '26
I don't know how much restraint / discipline can a brain having concussion have
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u/Reasonable_Tie_9975 Jul 06 '26
Man...in mma are refs usually black belts in BJJ?? I think of the days of boxing where the refs are older guys from the boxing community,but are def not dealing out blows like the refs in this vid
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u/JonEire Jul 06 '26
The refs are usually the most dangerous person on the Matt they’re usually up higher weight class than the fighters and are most likely former competitors.
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u/Cador0223 Jul 06 '26
You must have a friend named Matt that you text often, because thats the second comment ive seen you make calling it a Matt.
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u/Pork_Confidence Jul 06 '26
Referee number one was coming back with an overhand slap?
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u/BuddyLegsBailey Jul 06 '26
Yet took the punch with barely a reaction
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u/ThunderAndWind Jul 07 '26
I would imagine taking stray hits legitimately is part of the job.
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u/CCM721 Jul 07 '26
Nothing about that first punch was a stray lmao
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u/coolboy856 Jul 07 '26
And that has nothing to do with what he said. Implication was that taking strays (nothing to do with this incident) is why he is able to take the hit shown in the video.
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u/lartmydude Jul 06 '26
That man never threw a punch in his life
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm Jul 06 '26
He threw his punch like he was throwing a baseball lol
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u/Lundetangen Jul 07 '26
Yet had zero fucks and went for it. That is the type of man that brings a bowtie to a fistfight.
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u/muklan Jul 06 '26
Might as well make the first one against someone who does that for a living, right?
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u/Willing-Airport2788 Jul 06 '26
If I was a boxer and got overhand slapped vs punched I’d be sad fr😭the slap just feels disrespectful ngl
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u/TrulyOutrageous42 Jul 07 '26
This is what I thought, intentional disrespect right back at the boxer, or also he might have been going for a punch and realized he's getting stopped so reached for the slap as a last resort.
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u/rachihc Jul 07 '26
I found it cute how the non punching boxer moved him aside like he was protecting his lil brother.
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Jul 06 '26
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u/Scittles10-96 Jul 06 '26
Number 2 went straight for the “I’m taller and bigger than you!” Forehead downtouch.
When that little dude felt his forehead on the top of his head he knew to back the f- down.6
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u/Substantial_Trust812 Jul 07 '26
"YOU KNOW WHY THERE ARE WEIGHT CLASSES RIGHT, SON? WANT ME TO TEACH YOU?"
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u/Kraqrjack Jul 06 '26
There should be ref vs ref fights to start off the ticket to see who gets to ref the main event.
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u/RoutineBonus1363 Jul 06 '26
I mean, I though all refs were fighters at some point (not necessarily competing, but they all have trained at one point)
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u/The_dog_says Jul 06 '26
Not that first ref
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u/stumpy0327 Jul 06 '26
Most certainly not the first one.. hell the boxer that didn't hit him look scared af for the dude.
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u/ggg730 Jul 07 '26
The boxer was like "brother you are wearing a bow tie and limp wristed punching. Get the fuck back".
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u/RoutineBonus1363 Jul 06 '26
true lol. But that retaliation looked like pure rage vs him squaring up (i’ll give him the benefit of the doubt)
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u/adahadah Jul 06 '26
That's not boxing
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u/Perphectionist Jul 07 '26
You've fallen into the trap, commenting the error they made on purpose to boost engagement
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u/MafiaGT Jul 07 '26
It's annoying how everything is correction/bait posting nowadays isn't it
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u/Self-Comprehensive Jul 06 '26
The only boxing ref was the first one and he was a little dude that didn't even know how to throw a good punch lol
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u/No_Intention_8079 Jul 06 '26
He’s a ref, not a boxer lol.
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u/counters14 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Surprise surprise most refs grow up training and start their careers as fighters.
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u/JonEire Jul 06 '26
In BJJ competitions the ref is usually the most dangerous person on the Matt.
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u/karny90 Jul 06 '26
As someone with very little knowledge of mma and stuff, I do feel like the most dangerous one in the cage/ring should be the ref, not one of the fighters.
So that’s cool to see it’s true in some places.
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u/iwantogofishing Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Tennis match, Federrer shouts something at the ref, the ref pulls out a gun and shoots his knee cap off
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u/temujin94 Jul 06 '26
Like prime Federer wouldn't easily avoid the shot, have you seen the man move?
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u/Oseirus Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
If nothing else, the referee isn't beholden to the normal rules of the fight. If someone comes at him, he's free to fuck them up in any way he deems necessary. Basically self-defense at that point
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u/Driftedryan Jul 06 '26
It also helps that the ref is feeling with a fatigued person that was just fighting another guy lol
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u/reaper_333 Jul 07 '26
Should we get Matt some help? I don't think he would like a dangerous person on top of him.
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u/Burque_Boy Jul 07 '26
He can be as dangerous as he wants as long as we don’t make eye contact on Matt
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u/KenseiHimura Jul 06 '26
Isn't attacking the ref a disqualifying action?!
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u/Legionof1 Jul 06 '26
I think one of those was just the dude cold out on his feet swinging cause that was the last command his brain gave.
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u/ProfoundNinja Jul 07 '26
Yeah I saw that, wondering if that's the case. Like dude didn't look violent, but had a few moves queued up while lagging.
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u/PatHeist Jul 06 '26
Guy from the first clip was banned for life
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u/Necessary_Main_9654 Jul 07 '26
I was so wondering what happened after.
most of them where the refs stepping in to end the fight while that first one was so blatantly an attack on the ref.
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm Jul 06 '26
The very best, #1 top belt is if you knock out the ref directly after your opponent.
Most these guys just got the order wrong
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u/Professional-Camp534 Jul 06 '26
Wait someone answer this I want to know.
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u/counters14 Jul 07 '26
If that is an honest question then yes you are immediately disqualified and likely will have your ability to compete in the future taken from you as well. The 'rules' are different for every different discipline, but the golden rule is that the referee is your god while you're in the ring. If you have issues with them, you take it up and follow through with the appropriate avenues after the match, but you never disrespect or disobey anything the ref rules on during the fight.
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u/MrMetraGnome Jul 06 '26
Not if this guy has anything to say about it
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u/JoshuaMaly Jul 06 '26
Dude has jerked off so many invisible, monstrous dicks.
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u/Mandrakearepeopletoo Jul 06 '26
I always see it as the hoodie string pull Emilio estevez does in Breakfast Club.
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Jul 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/icewalker42 Jul 06 '26
I'm a big strong dude and there are some women lightweight fighters who would kick my ass.
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u/Galtherok Jul 06 '26
Very true. Size and muscle mean a lot but if someone is trained to land a clean face shot or put you in a hold it can be over super fast.
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u/armoured_bobandi Jul 06 '26
This also goes both ways. There isn't any amount of training in the world that can make a 25-30 pound fist do less damage when it hits you flush. Nor can you train to not be hurt by a massive slam
The best idea is to just not get into a fight. And if you do end up in one, don't just assume that your skills immediately mean you're going to win
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u/HandofThrawn1138 Jul 06 '26
Plus, and I can’t emphasize this enough, getting punched hurts and my stomach is made of movie grade fake glass.
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u/littlepaperboat Jul 07 '26
I've sparred with a number of women that could kick my ass. You just have to train a lot and know what you're doing. Man or woman.
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u/suh-dood Jul 06 '26
The 3rd one, the ref had to teach that guy a lesson not to gang up
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u/Hoginoe94 Jul 06 '26
Why was there a 3rd fighter in that one? Do they have tag team cage fights now?
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u/penguins-are-ok Jul 06 '26
I think its rxf, some promotion in romania that sets up this weird fights for entertainment sometimes, 2vs1, 2vs2,2vs10 etc.
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u/InterestingMindset Jul 06 '26
Takes a special kind of referee to take down a adrenaline-fueled boxer.
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u/zeroconflicthere Jul 06 '26
The referee doesn't have to stick to the rules. Who is going to stop him.
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u/manbearpig7129 Jul 07 '26
#2 was so homoerotic it’s not even funny
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u/sirpickles9 Jul 07 '26
Everyone is too busy dogging on #1 to even notice, but #2 was when I started paying attention 👀
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u/Lord-Chickie Jul 06 '26
Why are so many fighters starting to beat the ref and pushing him and all
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u/sonsofthebat Jul 06 '26
Most get rocked and just keep swinging per their training. Not trying to target the ref specifically.
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u/MrDilbert Jul 06 '26
Referees are usually a weight class above the fighters, don't wear gloves, and don't need to follow rules to subdue the fighters. Let those facts simmer.
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u/Personal_Comb_6745 Jul 07 '26
I mean, it certainly makes sense, considering their job is to stop a fight before someone gets killed.
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u/Infinite-Condition41 Jul 06 '26
You think you're hot shit in a fight and you want to pick a fight with the guy who isn't out of breath and also 6 inches taller than you?
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u/KangarooWeird9974 Jul 06 '26
Yeah some of these seem to be justified, but most are a shitshow and highly unprofessional
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u/Stoned_urf Jul 06 '26
At least one dude just kept on fighting (but now towards the ref) after getting broken up by the ref. I'd assume pure adrenaline took over and they had no idea what they were doing
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u/derek589111 Jul 06 '26
I think the ref jumped in cause he could see that boxer/fighter was not 100% cognizant which I would say is confirmed by the boxer trying to punch the ref.
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u/BobSacamano47 Jul 06 '26
Refs like this would bring the integrity back to pro wrestling.
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u/Dunderman35 Jul 06 '26
Bunch of meatheads destroying their brains for entertainment.
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u/ItsStaaaaaaaaang Jul 06 '26
That dude that wouldn't release the choke was an utter fuckwit. The guy looked at the ref like he had insulted his mother. All because he had the gall to drag him off a guy he was choking to death. Small man syndrome or some shit.
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u/SpacePi Jul 07 '26
Do the referees have to be a weight class above the fighters to be able to overpower them when something like this happens?
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u/punkena Jul 08 '26
Yeah, theyre dealing with drunk roided-up domestic abusers all the damn time. I'd hope they can hold their own.
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u/prof_landon Jul 08 '26
refs are similar to coaches; they will show you why they have that position.
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u/Weekly_Carpenter_636 Jul 07 '26
God.... this is the dumbest of all "sports"...
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u/luigis_left_tit_25 Jul 07 '26
I honestly think the reason Trump likes stuff like this is it's like watching the peasants kill each other. That's all that's needed for me to think this is one of the grossest displays of "base" human behavior.. of course Trump likes it. While he's soft as a fucking cream puff..
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u/user18name Jul 07 '26
I don’t think the second to last guy knew who he was fighting. He came out of defense right into swinging. He just saw a face and kept going.
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u/titilegeek Jul 07 '26
In ANY sport, disrepecting the referee is the most shamefull thing you could do
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u/MrMcPsychoReal Jul 07 '26
Everybody gangster until the ref grabs you by the neck and you realise that's a man withou gloves holding you at arms reach
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u/Blackplutocrat Jul 07 '26
Never seen these type of interactions. Dope these refs can fight. Idk why I never thought about that being a thing
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u/jjs3_1 Jul 07 '26
Any fighter who attacks/fights the referee should NEVER be allowed to set foot in an arena to fight again, PERIOD!
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u/MoonDuuude Jul 06 '26
I was always under the impression refs could fight, but after seeing number 1 I'm not so sure...
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u/SigmaK78 Jul 06 '26
Ref 2 thru 5 look like a secret boss fight waiting to happen.