Watch: Anthony Taylor involved in altercation with Neeraj Goyat following loss

As Indian pro boxer Neeraj Goyat scored a one-sided win over American Anthony Taylor at the Misfits Boxing event in Dubai, things took a turn outside the ring. Goyat emerged with the victory by way of a unanimous decision on the undercard of a major crossover boxing card, but the end result would just be the start of the saga.

Shortly after the final bell, emotions boiled over backstage as cameras caught both fighters in a heated face-off. It is a common event after a fight, but it quickly dominated many of the various social media platforms and sport-versus-sport gabfests, such as this column with representatives of each fraternity wondering if there is such a thing as good sportsmanship in crossover boxing.

Neeraj Goyat and Anthony Taylor clash moments after the bout

Neeraj Goyat earned a clear and unanimous decision victory, leaving control of most of the match in shot selection and maturity in the ring. The fireworks weren't long in coming as, within a few minutes, Taylor, a rapper known for his incendiary persona search, mixed martial arts pedigree, followed close behind. In the moments before, as the fighters passed each other backstage, Taylor offered a handshake, typically cordial after a fight.

Things escalated rapidly when Goyat refused the handshake, replying curtly, as hotwords from the fight and the pre-fight roiled in both fighters. The conversation grew passionate, both voices raised as members of their teams watched. When the disagreement escalated, security personnel intervened, ensuring that the conflict did not become physical. In one part of the video, an angry Taylor is shown throwing a water bottle before being escorted away from the scene.


The brief altercation, captured on multiple phones, spread rapidly online, adding another layer of controversy to an already closely watched event.

Reactions to Anthony Taylor’s loss and the post-fight altercation

Immediately after the event, fans were divided. Many took to Goyat's defence, stating he was justified in standing his ground given the contemptuous comments and trash talk he had received from the Indian boxer before their fight. To many, his answer represented pride and indignation over what they regarded as disrespect.

Meanwhile, those against the idea of a boycott stood up for Anthony Taylor, whose loss is felt so painfully, and even he didn't spare the crossover boxing check events of the heated atmosphere surrounding him. Former combatants often had emotions to allay in the postfight aftermath; if Friday was any further extension of competitive fire without malicious intent, it would appear that a level of doing a fight's business was still in play there, too.

Also Read: Neeraj Goyat - The Indian boxer who won first bout in Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight night

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