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Curmel Moton Issues Apology To New Jersey State Athletic Commission
NEWS
Jake Donovan
Jake Donovan
RingMagazine.com
Curmel Moton Issues Apology To New Jersey State Athletic Commission
Curmel Moton has issued a formal apology to the commission he blamed for his recently canceled fight.

The gifted 18-year-old prospect made headlines for the wrong reasons when he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight last Saturday in Atlantic City. Moton (6-0, 5 knockouts) arrived at last Friday’s weigh-in at 145.8 pounds, well beyond the 133-pound contracted limit. He was officially 11.4 pounds more than Bryan Mercado, who weighed 134 pounds but was left without an opponent on the Danny Garcia-promoted event.

At the time, Moton claimed that the New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJSAC) mishandled his bloodwork and that he knew in advance that his fight would be canceled. As such, the Mayweather Promotions-guided boxer insisted he no longer needed to cut weight, which he attributed to the excessive total at the scales.

He has since walked back that claim.

“I want to apologize to the New Jersey Athletic Commission and my fans,” Moton said in a statement posted on his Instagram channel. “The commission had nothing to do with what happened last week.”

“God willing, I’ll be back in the ring soon.”

The statement better supports the surprise expressed by Larry Hazzard Sr., NJSAC commission who questioned at the time of the weigh-in why Moton was that heavy. Hazzard confirmed the contracted weight limit with this staff before he stated on camera that the fight would not move forward under the circumstances.

Moton was placed under indefinite suspension by the NJSAC. The Ring has learned that the disciplinary action has more to do with an ongoing investigation regarding the steps leading to that point. The issue with his blood was not misplaced, but more so with test levels that were deemed “abnormal.”

Messages left with NJSAC officials by The Ring were not returned as this goes to publication.

The action taken by the New Jersey commission means that Moton cannot fight anywhere in the U.S. or any location which falls under the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).

Meanwhile, he will find activity in a different format.

As previously reported by The Ring, Moton is due to face the Philippines’ Albert Pagara (35-1, 24 KOs) on the Dec. 31 RIZIN 49: Decade event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. They will meet in an exhibition match scheduled for eight, three-minute rounds. The fight will not count against their official records.

Jake Donovan is part of the U.S. team for The Ring. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.

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