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Franco-Moloney title bout ruled no-decision after disputed headbutt

Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Warning: Videos may contain coarse language

Controversy erupted in Las Vegas on Saturday when the WBA regular super flyweight title fight between WBA champion Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney was halted and ruled a no-decision after two rounds due to a supposed accidental headbutt.

Early in the first round, referee Russell Mora ruled that an accidental headbutt from Moloney caused Franco's eye to swell up and close. When the swelling didn't go down after the second round, Mora halted the fight and ruled it a no-decision, which immediately caused controversy.

Video showed that Moloney had punched Franco in the right eye, but it was unclear whether their heads had actually clashed. A nearly 30-minute delay followed while Nevada officials went to instant replay to determine what happened.

ESPN commentators found no evidence of a headbutt while watching the replays.

Ultimately, the no-decision ruling was upheld, meaning Franco kept the belt he'd taken from Moloney in their first matchup.

An emotional Moloney claimed his jabs caused Franco's eye to swell, and maintained there was no headbutt.

"They took (the belt) away from me," Moloney said, according to Mike Coppinger of The Athletic. "I just can't believe it."

Moloney's promoter, Bob Arum, was irate at the decision. Arum and Nevada boxing commission executive director Bob Bennett got into a shouting match ringside, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

"We spend all this money on replay, and there's no headbutt," Arum said, according to The Athletic's Lance Pugmire. Arum then turned to Mora and yelled: "Get out of the ring, you bum."

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