LAS VEGAS: We're learning more about the Vergil Ortiz vs. Fredrick Lawson fight, and the aftermath.
Here is the news in a nutshell:
- On Saturday, Ortiz defeated Lawson by first-round knockout atop a Golden Boy Promotions show at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
- The referee Tony Weeks withdrew Ortiz from the bout during a punching flurry in which Lawson did not seem in any trouble.
- A Facebook account attributed to Weeks alleged on Sunday that aneurysms came up during two of three Lawson's brain scans. This post no longer exists on that platform.
- Golden Boy released a brief statement that same day.
- Now, the Nevada State Athletic Commission have released a statement, too.
- A source with direct knowledge of the entire process provided ProBox TV with additional details — one of which alleged there was one MRI scan, one CT scan, and neither showed an aneurysm. The first was "inconclusive." The second was clear.
Here are further details:
Criticism for Weeks followed Ortiz's quick-fire win over Lawson as it appeared the referee had waved the bout off too early.
On Sunday, though, a Facebook account attributed to Weeks said: "What the public don't know that prior to the fight they did a brain scan on him, and it came up that he had an aneurysm, and they did a test again, and the same aneurysm came up.
"Another doctor was brought in and gave him the same examination and he tested negative for the aneurysm, so they cleared him to fight."
Shortly after, Golden Boy released a statement.
"Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Commission [NSAC] sanctioned doctor to fight on Saturday night," it said. "All other questions should be referred to NSAC."
ProBox TV contacted the NSAC on Monday.
In a statement sent to ProBox TV, it said, regarding the Ortiz vs. Lawson match at 156-pounds: "The Contest was under the jurisdiction of the NSAC The health and safety of the unarmed combatants that compete in the State are paramount to the Commission. All contestants in the event were subject to full medical examinations and were cleared by medical experts to compete without restrictions."
ProBox TV also spoke to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, but whom requested anonymity, who provided further details.
"On Wednesday," the source said, "Lawson took an MRI test but it was inconclusive. Couldn't tell if it was good or bad."
At no point though, at this time, was there any mention of an aneurysm — merely that this specific test was "inconclusive," the source said.
The source added that the next move was to conduct a CT Scan which would provide a better indication if anything was good or bad, rather than inconclusive.
This test on Friday, the source said, "showed nothing wrong."
The source continued: "The neurosurgeon signed off on it, and so did the doctor."
The source said it is confusing as to where Weeks got any information regarding an aneurysm as there was "nothing definite" from that first test — aneurysm, or otherwise.
Nevada's athletic commission, in its closing remarks, said: "The Commission and its Executive Director will continue its ongoing practice of reviewing its official’s performance during and after an event."
