‘So wrong’: Ref slammed as Junior Paulo destroys Ben Hannant in ‘scary’ KO

Boxing commentators and fans were fuming after a referee allowed an NRL great to get beaten to a pulp in farcical scenes.

Ben Hannant got completely destroyed by Junior Paulo. Photo: Stan Sport.

Junior Paulo has claimed a knockout boxing win over Ben Hannant within the first round in a demolition that had fans and commentators slamming the referee’s handling of the mismatch.

In one of several rugby league fights on the Battle on the Reef card on Saturday night in Townsville, the Parramatta Eels prop showcased his immense punching power by dropping Hannant with a brutal right hand after 30 seconds.

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Former Bronco and Cowboy Hannant could barely get to his feet, but the referee somehow let the fight to continue, allowing Paulo to drop Hannant.

Paulo landed countless blows on Hannant, before his corner threw in the towel late in the first round.

Hannant fought Justin Hodges last year, but he was no match whatsoever for Paulo.

Stan Sport commentator Andy Raymond said: “Somebody stop this. He struggled to get to his feet and he’s going to get hurt if they allow this to continue.

“The towel has finally come in and it’s too late. This is the part of boxing I absolutely hate.

“There’s nothing worse than a brave corner or a referee who can’t control what’s happening.

“These aren’t professional boxers fighting for million dollar purses. These are rugby league guys having a crack in a boxing ring. That is crap.”

Ben Hannant got destroyed by Junior Paulo. Photo: Stan

Hannant got dropped several times in a complete mismatch. Photo: Stan.

Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean said: “He’s not on steady legs. I think we’d seen enough after that first knockdown.

“It just goes to show just how much power Junior has.”

Michael Zerafa said: “That was a poor decision by the referee. He was out on his feet and he couldn’t even walk straight.

“This is why some fighters get serious, permanent injuries. We put them charge and sadly they don’t call the right shorts.”

Boxing fans and pundits couldn’t believe the referee allowed the fight to continue as long as it did.

What a knockout from Paulo 😳 #BattleOnTheReef

— Gilly (@2S2Q39) October 7, 2023

The Townsville Bulletin’s Nic Darveniza posted on X: “Junior Paulo is a scary, scary man. Ben Hannant knocked down in seconds and towel thrown midway through first round for a TKO.”

Triple M’s Elliott Lovejoy said: “No idea how Ben Hannant got up from some of those shots. Paulo can throw them, wow.”

One boxing fan wrote: “The old man who refereed the Junior Paulo vs Ben Hannant fight is negligent and a danger to the athletes he should be protecting. That was a disaster class.

“Hannant was not in any condition to continue there. His corner should’ve thrown the towel in earlier too.”

Another commented: “The ref absolutely needed to stop that, but how the corner allowed Hannant to keep going after that first knock down is just so wrong.”