Controversy surrounded the finish as a new Commonwealth featherweight champion was crowned on Wednesday night.
On Eddie Hearn’s JD NXTGEN card, Ryan Doyle upset the odds to prise the title away from Reece Bellotti but plenty of fight fans were unhappy with the stoppage.
After four rounds of incredible action, a right hook to Bellotti’s temple in the fifth clearly disturbed the defending champion’s equilibrium and the he was sent to the canvas in the subsequent flurry from Doyle.
No sooner had Bellotti’s backside hit the mat when referee Howard Foster waved the contest off, not allowing the previously undefeated fighter the chance to return to his feet.
The referee stoppage didn’t sit well with esteemed coach Dave Coldwell, who was on commentary duty for Sky Sports, as he suggested that a champion should be given the opportunity to answer a count.
🥊 WATCH RUTHLESS WIN! See the surprise of the night as @RuthlessRyan17 took @Bomber_Bellotti's title away.
📝 READ: https://t.co/5mD0O6LD0E pic.twitter.com/hG5aqt5KP7
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 6, 2018
Coldwell’s most famous fighter, Tony Bellew, echoed those sentiments as he took to Twitter to criticise the referee.
Bellew likened the early stoppage to the ending of Carl Froch’s first victory over George Groves in 2013, when he dived in at one of the first signs of danger to save Groves from further damage.
That’s a bad stoppage!
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) June 6, 2018
He took a few clean but you have to let him try and get up.. Howard Foster panicked slightly again there.. Groves Froch all over again that.. sorry to say It but that’s how I see it…
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) June 6, 2018
Take nothing away from Doyle there.. Put it all on the line there and found a way against a good puncher in Belloti.. Everyone will wanna see a rematch! Great little tear up.. 👊 #BellottiDoyle
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) June 6, 2018
A rematch seems like the fairest outcome and Bellotti was quick to request one, whilst offering his congratulations to Doyle for the win.
https://twitter.com/Bomber_Bellotti/status/1004509599054082055
