Boxing Referee Gets Punched In The Face Several Times During Fight

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Dec 31, 2024 2:39 PM ET

Both competitors accidentally struck the referee during a boxing fight that devolved into chaos.

Rukiya Anpo and Sina Karimian fought at RIZIN 49 in Saitama, Japan. The kickboxers agreed to an exhibition under modified boxing rules, but Karimian went off-script to throw a spinning punch.

Anpo retaliated with his own illegal spinning strike, and Karimian attempted another before the referee intervened. Anpo inadvertently struck the official with a powerful left hook.

The referee still attempted to restore order as the fighters traded punches in the corner, but Karimian appeared to hit him twice with a right and left combo. Multiple security members rushed into the ring to separate the fighters.

"The referee got hit," the announcer said. "The referee got hit again! Oh no, it's a brawl! Security is coming in. It's a brawl, it's a brawl. The referee got hit twice. Both men broke the rules!"

Here's a look at the sequence, via MMA Fighting:

The referee accidentally gets punched clean in the face during a wild exchange between Rukiya Anpo and Sina Kari #RIZIN_DEACDE pic.twitter.com/YM5F3uye7A
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) December 31, 2024

The referee luckily appeared to be OK after taking unprotected shots to the face from professional fighters.

Somehow, neither boxer got disqualified for blatantly breaking the rules and hitting the referee. Anpo, who fought Manny Pacquiao in July, scored a 60-54 victory by unanimous decision.

RIZIN 49 featured 22 fights, including 18 MMA matches and three kickboxing bouts. Anpo was originally scheduled to face star boxer Ryan Garcia, who withdrew due to a hand injury. The exhibition is expected to be rescheduled in early 2025.

"I've been eagerly preparing for my upcoming exhibition fight in Japan, training hard in Dallas over the past several weeks," Garcia said in a statement. "Unfortunately, I sustained a hand injury during training and returned to Los Angeles to be seen by the doctor."

Let's hope no referees are harmed in that fight.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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