CSAC upholds referee's ruling in Porter vs. Ramirez bout after video review

The California State Athletic Commission on Dec. 9 voted to uphold the referee's in-ring decision for the June 15, 2024, bout between James Porter and Angel Ramirez, rejecting a petition by Porter to change the result.

Executive Officer Andy Foster presented the commission with background, a short video of the ending and his recommendation that the referee's ruling stand. Foster told commissioners the video suggested an incidental clash of heads but that the stoppage appeared to follow ground strikes. "I've looked at it several times," Foster said in presenting the staff recommendation.

Petitioner James Porter addressed the commission by phone and said he lost consciousness briefly and believed the clash of heads, rather than a landed strike, ended the fight. "I came to when I'd lost consciousness for a half a second," Porter said, arguing the contact should be treated as an accidental headbutt and the bout recorded as a no contest.

Referee Chris Leben (identified in the commission packet) told the panel that, from being at ringside and on review, the head contact appeared accidental and that subsequent strikes on the ground were the primary reason he stopped the contest. "There was some contact of the heads. It certainly was accidental by both parties," the referee stated, noting he could not conclusively say the clash alone caused the knockout.

Commissioners discussed whether the tape and the in-ring perspective supported overturning the referee. Several members said the standard for overturning a referee's call requires clear and compelling evidence. After a motion to accept the executive officer's recommendation, the commission voted unanimously to let the referee's decision stand.

The commission did not order further action; the referee's result remains the official outcome of the June 15 bout.