Extraordinary video shows heated clash after Gallen loss to Huni
Extraordinary vision from inside the ring following Paul Gallen’s loss to Justis Huni on Wednesday night has revealed a heated exchange involving referee John Cauchi.
As first reported by foxsports.com.au, a member of Gallen’s corner team confronted Cauchi as the dust was settling on Huni’s 10th round TKO victory.
Gallen’s adviser Peter Mitrevski is seen angrily barking at Cauchi, complaining about the referee’s decision to stop the contest just two minutes from going the distance.
An overwhelming number of boxing commentators have publicly expressed displeasure with the decision to allow Gallen to fight on in the later rounds after he received a barrage of shots and even broke his rib in the second round.
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However, Gallen believes the stoppage came too early, especially with the finish line in sight.
It was Gallen’s first defeat. It comes after Gallen told reporters on Thursday he was “filthy” with the stoppage decision and on Wednesday night said the stoppage came prematurely.
The late decision by the referee to save the incredibly brave NRL legend from himself left Mitrevski furious — and video from ringside shows the wild moment he complained to the official while Huni was celebrating his victory just a few metres away.
Justis Huni knocks Paul Gallen to the canvas.Source:Getty Images
Mitrevski: “You’re a joke. You’re a joke. You’re a joke. You’re a joke. I said it before.”
Cauchi: “F*** off! F***ing idiot. You’re an idiot.”
Mitrevski: “We were never going to win the fight. You’re a joke.”
Cauchi: “What? Let him get hurt?”
Mitrevski: “You’re a joke. You’re incompetent.”
Cauchi: “F***ing idiot. You’re an idiot.”
Mitrevski: “We were never going to win the fight. We were never going to win the fight. Never. But the whole fight…”
Cauchi: “I don’t want to talk to you. Get out…”
Mitrevski: “Don’t touch me. I’ll f***ing knock your head [off].”
Cauchi: “Try it. Try it.”
Gallen was barely hanging on in the final rounds and several pundits questioned why the referee did not stop the fight earlier.
It had already been abundantly clear Gallen was no chance of clinching victory — something the ex-NSW Origin skipper himself admitted after the fight — but the onslaught continued as Huni kept swinging, but failed to deliver the knockout blow until the very end.
“By the end of the sixth or seventh round, I knew I wasn’t going to win it, I just wanted to finish it,” Gallen said.
“While he knocked me down fair and square I thought the referee maybe stopped it early. But I was never going to win the fight. I would have liked to have finished it.”
Cauchi may have saved Paul Gallen from even more severe damage.Source:Getty Images
While Gallen may be furious at the result, boxing commentators said Wednesday night they hope the defeat will be the wake up call Gallen needs to hang up the gloves at the age of 39.
“I wouldn’t like to see him fight anymore. I don’t think he can go any higher than where he went tonight,” The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent told Main Event.
“He certainly doesn’t want any better opponent than what Justis Huni gave him tonight.
“He can go back, he can fight the Barry Halls of the world again and have the rematches, there’s always the talk about fighting Sonny Bill Williams, which is out on the horizon.
“But I think tonight he got his payday. I would like, for his own welfare, for him to say, ‘You know what, I’m 39-years-old. I’m going to go and have the shoulder operation, I’m going to go off into retirement and enjoy spending my money’.”
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