Anthony Joshua Reveals the Fight That Changed His Mindset
Anthony Joshua says one fight reminded him just how unforgiving combat sports can be. #AnthonyJoshua #IliaTopuria #JustinGaethje #Boxing
EssentiallySports – Boxing – Vertical
Boxing matches end in a variety of ways, but getting tackled by the referee is among the most novel.
The odd scene took place at Madison Square Garden Theater during the super middleweight fight between Edgar Berlanga and Steven Butler Sunday, July 26.
With Berlanga hammering Butler in the seventh round, referee Eric Dali stepped in, wrapped his arms around Butler and suddenly Dali and Butler crashed to the mat.
Officially, the fight ended at 1:14 of the seventh round in a victory for Berlanger. Dali did not get credit for a tackle.
“Very weird,” said Dana White, whose company Zuffa promoted the fight.
Dali, a 58-year-old referee from New Jersey, is no newcomer. He’s been a professional referee since 2014 and was part of another notable stoppage.
In April, Dali was the referee for a fight between Lani Daniels and Shadasia Green at the Madison Square Garden Theater. He stopped the fight in the ninth round after Green had taken a slew of punches from Daniels and, according to ESPN, Green ended up in the hospital with a brain bleed.
Back at Madison Square Garden Sunday, Dali was the referee for a slugfest between Berlanger and Butler. Berlanger went down in Round 2, Butler went down in Round 6 and Round 7. Butler and the referee went down together as the fight came to an end.