This was certainly a weekend for fighting. UFC held an event in Auckland, New Zealand whilst the biggest heavyweight boxing match since Lewis vs Klitschko in 2003. No, seriously, it’s been that long since there’s been a fight of this magnitude that was this anticipated. 

The boxing match was billed as Unfinished Business, referencing the lackluster draw they fought to last year. Both men came into the rematch undefeated as a result of that draw, and a result would unify the majority of boxing’s alphabet title soup and effectively brand the winner as the most dominant heavyweight champion this era.

For the most part, the heavyweight fight failed to live up to the hype. Fury dominated the fight from bell to bell carving Wilder up like a Christmas candied ham. Fury has often been criticized for limited punching power, with Wilder needling Fury before the fight by saying that his two-year-old punches harder than him. 

In the end, it was that potent punching power that ultimately did Wilder in to the point that his corner threw in the towel. The boxscore will note that Fury defeated Wilder by TKO, but be assured, this was a mercy killing. Wilder’s ear was busted open in the fourth, looking like someone with one of Khan’s earworms burrowing into his brain. In the fifth, Fury backed Wilder into a corner (literally) and just pounded him like he was the dough for a mince pie in Fury’s native Manchester.

So badly beaten was Wilder, that his cornerman and trainer surrendered purely out of concern for their fighter’s health, possibly saving Wilder’s career. Mark Breland’s decision has been criticized by Wilder’s management team and even the fighter himself, but Breland had only Wilder’s best interests and health in mind. Too many boxers in recent years have died from action in the ring, 

Contrast that to the other big fight this weekend. MMA star Karolina Kowalkiewicz. The Polish flyweight has been lauded for her toughness and cheered for her tenacity as one of the sport’s fiercest fighters in the women’s game. But much of the pre-fight press focused on Kowalkiewicz’s fight to stay relevant in a suddenly stacked strawweight division. Kowalkiewicz’s last fights have ended in a first-round knockout and two unanimous decisions. One loss is a hiccup, two is worrisome, and three are a downward spiral. She desperately needed a win.

The result of her UFC Auckland bout with rising star Chinese Yan Xiaonan was anything but pretty. 

Karolina Kowalkiewicz: “First time in my life, after fight, I cannot say I’m OK.” (via @KarolinaMMA) pic.twitter.com/5sAayzKykI— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) February 23, 2020

Before the start of the second round, the referee nearly stopped the fight. Kowalkiewicz’s left eye had been popped pretty hard, and it was so swollen, it was nearly closed. she begged to continue, but it was very clear she was not in this fight from that point on. She begged the ref to stay in, but at that point, the sport has to step in for her. Even in the fourth when Kowalkiewicz nearly score oh a heel hook submission, Xiaonan was never in danger of losing the fight. She dissected Kowalkiewicz, answering for every strike and taking Kowalkiewicz to the mat at will.

There’s not a lot MMA can learn from boxing, but this is most definitely one instance they can. Someone from Kowalkiewicz corner or a UFC official shouldd have stopped that fight. She has fought too long and too hard to be eviscerated on a live pay per view show simply due to promotion apathy. It belies an abject interest in loyalty and care for the athletes who are literally putting their lives on the line for the sake of your promotional profit. 

Why would you not protect them at all cost?