French boxer disqualified, protests with sit-in at ringside
Mourad Aliev (FRA) refuses to leave the ring after being disqualified in his men’s super heavy quarterfinal bout against Frazer Clarke (GBR) during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kokugikan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports
TOKYO— French super heavyweight Mourad Aliev remained seated at ringside for nearly an hour after being disqualified in his fight on Sunday, a call he furiously protested with kicks in the air and offensive gestures.
When the referee stopped his bout against Britain’s Frazer Clarke with four seconds left in the second round, the Frenchman flew into a rage, spat out his mouth guard, kicked it, and punched at a TV camera.
Clarke suffered cuts above his eyes in what the referee appeared to deem an intentional headbutt by Aliev.
Mourad Aliev (FRA), blue shorts, yells at officials after being disqualified in his men’s super heavy quarterfinal bout against Frazer Clarke (GBR), red shorts, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kokugikan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports
Aliev remained sitting at ring-side for about half an hour, then departed the arena after a word with a group of suited officials, only to return about 15 minutes later.
The quarterfinal match, which ended in the second round, secured at least a bronze for Clarke, who said he sympathized with the Frenchman and that he had advised him not to “ruin his reputation.”
