The Canelo-Crawford event is halfway through. Christian M’billi is trying to fend off a blistering attack from Lester Martinez. But controversy seems to have marked its presence on the card, which came under scrutiny for being top-heavy. It erupted during the six-round middleweight fight between Olympian and Canelo stablemate Marco Verde and Sona Akale. The bout ended in a fourth-round stoppage victory for the Mexican. But the way the curtains fell when referee Mark Nelson waved his hands has sparked a heated debate.

Marco Verde , a 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist, turned professional early this year. He stepped into the fight against Sona Akale , who gained prominence after handing Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, his first career loss two years ago, with two consecutiv

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