The consequences continue to shower down on Leon Lawson Jr., the uncle and trainer of super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell, for his sucker punch following a Showtime co-featured attraction.
krikya360.com recently reported that Lawson will turn himself in on Friday in connection to felony assault charges after an ugly incident which transpired two weeks ago in Maryland.
The incident took place in the aftermath of a Showtime televised fight between Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui. After Uzcategui was disqualified at the end of the eight round for landing a punch on Dirrell which came after the bell, Lawson came over to the Uzcategui's corner and punched the boxer in the face with full force. He attempted to land several more punches.
Lawson has now received an indefinite suspension in Maryland.
“Based on an initial investigation of events that took place on May 20, 2017 during a professional boxing show held at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, licensed second (cornerman) Leon Lawson, II was summarily suspended by the Maryland State Athletic Commission as of May 23, 2017 for exhibiting unruly conduct in violation of Commission regulations," stated Maryland State Athletic Commission Executive Director Patrick Pannella on behalf of the Commission.
"Such action is pursuant to Maryland State law authorizing the summary suspension of a licensee where the Commission finds that the public health, safety and welfare imperatively requires emergency action. The action was taken as a result of Mr. Lawson punching professional boxer Jose Uzcategui in the face following the conclusion of the boxing contest between Mr. Uzcategui and Andre Dirrell. The Maryland State Athletic Commission’s suspension of Mr. Lawson was issued on an indefinite basis. The Commission is continuing its investigation and takes this matter very seriously.”
According to Lawson's attorney Frank J. Manley, his client has been charged with multiple counts of felonious assault in Prince George's County District Court. Manley said the warrants were issued against Lawson last week and that his client will appear in a Maryland courtroom on June 2.
"It's important to understand that Mr. Lawson has not been on the run, but rather his attorneys have been negotiating with the authorities in Maryland to have a voluntary turn in," Manley said to reporter Dominic Adams of Mlive.com. "He looks forward to resolving this matter.
After the fight was over, Dirrell tried to defend the actions of his uncle.
"That's my man, that's my brother, that's my uncle, that's my coach," Dirrell previously said. "He cares about my well-being first so I don't understand why he did that, because, like I said, I feel fine but this is just the way the cards is dealt sometimes."
Several boxing commissions and a number of the sanctioning bodies, like the WBA and WBC, have called for Lawson to receive a lifetime ban from the sport.
Uzcategui and his team have filed an appeal with the IBF, which sanctioned the contest a final eliminator to get a shot at current beltholder James DeGale. They want an immediate rematch with Dirrell to get ordered.