A sickening low blow soured an undercard fight ahead of the Sonny Bill Williams-Barry Hall showdown on Wednesday night.
Michael Hall trumped Mitchel Stapleton via a unanimous decision, but his win was marred by a low blow that stalled the fight for more than a minute and had the referee laying down the law.
Hall struck a low blow during the fifth round, leaving Stapleton clutching at his genitals.
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Stan’s commentators were surprised at the referee’s reaction.
“It wasn’t hard,” the referee said to Stapleton.
“Come on. Get up, get up.”
But the referee’s tune then changed.
“Are you right?” he said.
The official then warned Hall that if he did it again he’d be disqualified, before the bout resumed.
“This is a good fight, a very solid fight,” said Australian boxing world champion George Kambosos Junior on Stan’s coverage.
“Both boys are exchanging great shots.
“You don’t want to ruin a good fight because of a low blow.”
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