
Francisco Lorenzo fakes injury to win boxing match verses Humberto Soto.
Francisco Lorenzo had been knocked down already in the fourth round and was on the verge of going out as Soto chased him into a corner. As Soto moved in to pounce, Cortez (the ref) jumped between the fighters, apparently to stop the fight.
“It was definitely a mistake and Joe acknowledges that,” said Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Cortez just as quickly backed away, though, resulting in momentary confusion and giving Lorenzo a few seconds to regain his senses. When Cortez ordered the boxers to continue, Soto threw a series of punches and Lorenzo went to a knee.
When Cortez moved in to begin the count, Soto threw a right uppercut which missed and then a left that landed on the back of Lorenzo’s head.
Cortez ruled that Lorenzo was injured from the force of the punch. It hardly seemed like more than a slap to the back of the head, not a blow intended to KO.
Cortez ruled that Lorenzo was unable to continue. And so, according to the unified rules, that meant the referee’s only option was to disqualify Soto once Lorenzo was given five minutes to recover and was still unable to fight.


