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Eddie Alvarez‘s recent disqualification loss to Iuri Lapicus has been overturned to a no contest, One Championship officials told ESPN on Monday morning.
A panel made up of 15 independent officials, plus One personnel, judges and referees, unanimously determined that illegal strikes to the back of Lapicus’ head did in fact occur, but they also determined that “a procedural misstep” by the referee happened when he halted the bout and handed Alvarez a red card, thus disqualifying him, after the second strike to the back of the head.
The panel, per One officials, decided Alvarez should have been given a warning instead of a red card, which ultimately ended the fight. As a result, the red card has been retracted and a yellow card has been issued in its place. The result of the fight has officially been changed as well.
The bout, which took place on April 7, was halted at 1:02 of the first round. Alvarez said afterward that he didn’t think it should have been stopped and would appeal the loss.
One would not reveal the identity of the panel members.
In the U.S., a state athletic commission would have to rule on an incident like this. But One regulates its own event when in Singapore, which is where the bout took place.
Alvarez (30-8, 2 NC) is returning to action this Wednesday in Singapore at One on TNT IV against Rae Yoon Ok (14-3).