“I was controlling the fight”: Salt Papi accuses referee of biased stoppage after Tony Ferguson wins Misfits Boxing 22

Salt Papi, whose real name is Nathaniel Bustamante, was left frustrated after losing to Tony Ferguson at Misfits Boxing 22 on August 30, 2025, at the AO Arena in Manchester, England. At 2:43 in round three, referee Benny Decroos terminated the bout. Ferguson, the former UFC interim lightweight champion, unleashed a strong series of punches against the ropes to claim a TKO win and the interim Misfits middleweight belt. But Papi believes the referee stepped in too early and cost him the fight.After the fight, Salt Papi told interviewer Tarbeto that he had already won the first two rounds and was resting in the third when the referee stopped the action. He claimed he had his guard up and was not badly hurt when the stoppage came with less than 20 seconds left in the round.“I was disappointed because I felt I was controlling the fight,” Papi said. “I slowed down, I told my corner I would rest because I already won two rounds. Then the referee just stepped in. The fans were robbed of a proper fight. I was two rounds up, it wasn’t like I got knocked out. The ref was a bit biased.”He also pointed to other fights on the card, saying referees acted differently in similar moments. “Like Luke Rockhold, he got knocked down and the referee still counted. I don’t know what’s going on, but this is boxing. I’m just happy to be here.” Papi stressed he left the ring without any major damage, noting, “Not even a scratch on my face.”University Of Kentucky Cheerleader Laken Ashlee Snelling Arrested After Police Find Dead Baby In ClosetFor Tony Ferguson, the night marked a big comeback. At 41 years old, he entered the bout with eight straight losses in MMA but found success in boxing. Ferguson pushed forward through the early rounds before trapping Papi on the ropes and throwing more than a dozen unanswered punches that forced referee Benny Decroos to stop the fight.Speaking to Seconds Out, Tony Ferguson said, “It was nothing but joy. I always wanted to put on boxing gloves and just let it fly. Tonight was perfect. I needed this win to get my confidence back and to remind myself who I am.”Though the argument over whether the stoppage was too early persists, the triumph gave Ferguson the interim Misfits Boxing middleweight crown and broke his long run of defeats.