Former lightweight world champion Delfine Persoon's bout with Ikram Kerwat in Dubai ended in a 'no contest' after she threw a punch after dropping her rival to the canvas.
Persoon acted out of character for a 51-fight veteran when after putting down Kerwat with a vicious right hand in the first round of their meeting on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs Deji. She threw further shots as her opponent was on the ground, but ultimately, the German was done by the time she hit the ground, and the bout was ruled a 'no contest' as opposed to a disqualification.
Belgian Persoon has competed at the highest level in the sport and held world honours before, but showed a remarkable lack of experience to let her emotions get the better of her and cost her a highlight reel knockout. There appeared to be bad blood between the pair as they stood across the ring prior to the bout, and Persoon acted on it with an outlandish display.
It had become evident even in the brief amount of time that they were in the ring that Persoon was the far superior boxer, showing fluid movement despite Kerwat's pressure. However, she was lucky to avoid her first loss since her 2020 rematch with Katie Taylor for throwing such a punch after dropping her opponent.
Persoon's drama was the latest to blight the card which will be headlined by Mayweather's latest money-spinning exhibition bout against YouTuber Deji. Earlier on Sunday, Tommy Fury's fight with Paul Bamba was scrapped from the undercard following a row over the weight limit.
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Fury weighed in seven pounds heavier than Bamba but insisted he had been sent a different contract to his opponent. Bamba refused to fight and Fury will instead take on Rolly Lambert in an exhibition bout which will not be scored.
Fury's fellow Love Islander Jack Fincham also looked set for upheaval on his professional debut when his fight with Anthony Taylor was plunged into doubt. Taylor, who is a sparring partner of Jake Paul, packed his bags and looked set to leave the arena before an agreement was reached.
