On April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Arnold Barboza Jr. faced off against Sean McComb for the interim WBO Inter-Continental light welterweight title.
The event also featured a headline bout between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia for the WBC super lightweight title, attracting significant attention to the venue.
Arnold Barboza Jr., an undefeated contender with a record of 28-0, including 10 knockouts, entered the ring with the hope of extending his perfect record.
McComb, known as ‘Medallita’, entered the fight with a respectable record of 16-1, having knocked out five of his opponents and riding a five-fight winning streak.
Fight Overview
The fight commenced with McComb showcasing strong form, clearly taking the upper hand in the initial rounds.
Notably, McComb, hailing from Ireland, also made a statement by sporting the Palestinian flag on his shorts, drawing attention both inside and outside the ring.
As the fight progressed through the scheduled 10 rounds, many spectators and commentators believed McComb had done enough to secure the victory, based on his performance and control during the majority of the fight.
Is Sean McComb Winning? 👀🥊 #haneyvsgarcia pic.twitter.com/7ofx0qoqhl
— Mr. Rotty (@ShawnRotty) April 21, 2024
Controversial Decision
However, the judges’ scorecards told a different story. The split decision was in favor of Barboza Jr., with scores of 92-98, 96-94, and 97-93.
This decision was met with immediate disapproval from the crowd, which erupted into booing, expressing their disagreement with the judges’ verdict.
Arnold Barboza is getting booed out of the building in Barclays Center #HaneyGarcia pic.twitter.com/IFSTZMN1MA
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) April 21, 2024
This outcome adds another win to Barboza Jr.’s undefeated streak, now 29-0, but not without controversy. The decision has sparked discussions about scoring consistency and fairness in boxing, highlighting this match as a contentious moment in the sport.
The debate over the judges’ decision is likely to continue as the boxing community analyzes the fight and its implications for both fighters’ careers.
