Referee Injured During RIZIN Boxing Match

Ryan Garcia has announced his withdrawal from a scheduled exhibition boxing match against Rukiya Anpo on New Year's Eve due to a wrist injury that will require surgery. In his absence, Anpo faced Sina Karimian, leading to a chaotic bout at RIZIN 49: Decade, where both fighters engaged in illegal spinning punches, culminating in the referee getting accidentally punched multiple times while attempting to separate them. Despite the referee being struck, the fight continued, with Anpo ultimately winning by unanimous decision with all judges scoring it 60-54 in his favor. The incident has drawn considerable attention on social media, with fans commenting on the referee's resilience amidst the chaos. The bout was initially meant to showcase Anpo's skills following his exhibition against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao earlier in the year. Garcia expressed his intent to return to the ring post-recovery in 2025, promising a rematch with Anpo.