In a highly anticipated rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III on Saturday night, fans were left disappointed as the bout lacked the expected excitement and drama. With no knockdowns or standout moments, the two-minute rounds passed with few memorable punches from either fighter.

However, the most shocking moment occurred in the second round when Mayweather had the referee ejected from the fight. The unusual incident began after Gotti complained that Mayweather had landed a ‘rabbit punch’ — an illegal blow to the back of the head. Replays showed that the punch was actually a looping hook that slipped past Gotti’s guard, but the referee halted the fight to allow Gotti time to recover.

VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBq22y0bhVE&pp=ygUeZmxveWQgbWF5d2VhdGhlciB2cyBqb2huIGdvdHRp

To the surprise of everyone, including the viewers, Mayweather reacted by demanding that the referee “move out the way,” leading to the ref being replaced mid-fight. A new referee then stepped into the ring to oversee the remainder of the bout.

Fans took to social media to express their disbelief at the unprecedented move. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “I’ve never seen this. Mayweather fired the referee mid-fight.” Another commented, “Mayweather fires the ref mid-fight. That was crazy to witness lol. That smirk at the end…” A third fan described the situation as “pure madness,” noting the chaotic nature of the replacement.

Some fans likened the scene to something straight out of WWE, with one writing, “Another #MayweatherGotti fight, another clown show moment. This time the ref got fired and replaced mid-fight. Really hope no one paid for this glorified WWE nonsense in a boxing ring.” Another added, “Floyd Mayweather kicked the referee out. All WWE Edition,” followed by a laughing emoji.

Despite the unexpected referee change, the fight continued with no further disruptions. However, the crowd grew increasingly restless as the match progressed. From the sixth round onwards, boos echoed through the venue as Mayweather focused on body shots and occasional uppercuts, while Gotti seemed content to endure them. The boos persisted during Mayweather’s post-fight interview, reflecting the crowd’s overall disappointment with the lackluster exhibition match.

In the end, the rematch failed to live up to expectations, with Mayweather’s mid-fight referee swap becoming the most talked-about moment of an otherwise uneventful bout.