A heavyweight boxing match in Germany ended in controversy when Edwin Castillo, 23, was knocked out just seconds into the bout against Viktor Jurk, 26. The fight occurred on the undercard of Karen Chukhadzhian vs. Paddy Donovan.
Jurk landed a left hook as the fighters met in the middle of the ring, which sent Castillo to the canvas immediately. The referee quickly returned to Castillo’s side as he lay on the floor, raising questions among fans.
Observers noted the unusual start of the fight. Jurk appeared to trick Castillo into a false sense of sportsmanship by initiating a glove touch. The gloves touched before the bell, leading some to accuse Jurk of deceptive tactics.
Comments from social media captured the spectrum of fan reactions. One user accused Jurk of an unfair tactic by ignoring the gentleman’s agreement of a glove tap. Another user pointed out that Jurk’s punch did not seem to land solidly on Castillo’s head or face.
Speculation grew among viewers who suspected both fighters orchestrated the fall. A critic commented, doubting the authenticity of the knockout and suggesting Castillo’s fall was staged.
Despite the controversy, the official result was Jurk’s 12th career knockout, bringing his record to 14-0. Castillo’s record fell to 13-3 after this loss, marking a decline with all three losses occurring in his last four fights.