Flint, Michigan - Brandon Moore’s debut under Salita Promotions was anything but conventional. The bout against previously unbeaten Skylar Lacy ended in chaos at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, with Moore securing a ninth-round disqualification victory after Lacy committed one of the more bizarre fouls seen in recent memory.

The fight officially concluded at the 51-second mark of the ninth round when Lacy, who had already lost three points for excessive holding, tackled Moore through the ropes and into the ringside broadcast table. Referee Steve Willis, who had been repeatedly warning Lacy throughout the bout, wasted no time in calling an end to the contest, declaring Moore the winner as he made it back into the ring before the 20-second count was completed.

While anticipation surrounded Moore’s return to the ring, the fight itself lacked traditional technical exchanges and was largely defined by excessive clinching, frustrating fans and officials alike. Both Moore and Lacy come from athletic backgrounds outside of boxing, having transitioned to the sport later in their careers. The lack of a refined boxing foundation was evident, as neither fighter established a consistent jab or offensive rhythm.

Moore, a 30-year-old prospect from Lakeland, Florida, entered the fight on a two-fight knockout streak following his 2023 loss to rising contender Richard Torrez Jr. Lacy, a 6-foot-7 heavyweight from Indianapolis, Indiana, was undefeated before the bout and had gained a reputation for being a durable, if awkward, competitor. However, what transpired in the ring was more of a wrestling match than a boxing contest.

From the opening rounds, it was clear that clinching would be a major factor. Moore attempted to press forward and apply pressure, but Lacy consistently neutralized the action by wrapping him up. The referee stepped in early, warning both fighters, but the infractions continued to pile up.

In the third round, Moore landed a clean right hand that briefly backed up Lacy, but any momentum was quickly stifled by more clinching. The fourth round saw the first official penalty, as Moore was docked a point for holding. However, Lacy also lost a point in the closing seconds for the same infraction. The pattern continued in the fifth, with Lacy losing yet another point, further putting himself at risk of disqualification.

By the sixth round, Moore adjusted by targeting the body, hoping to slow Lacy down and break his habit of clinching. The seventh round, however, drew boos from the crowd as the clinching resumed, making for a difficult fight to watch.

Entering the eighth round, Lacy had already lost three points and was on his final warning. Moore continued to pressure, landing sporadic shots while trying to work inside, but the fight was still plagued by excessive clinching. With frustration boiling over, Lacy made an inexplicable decision. In the ninth round, he wrapped up Moore, buried his shoulder into his chest, and drove him backward through the ropes, sending both fighters crashing into the DAZN commentary table.

Referee Willis, known for his expressive officiating, had seen enough. As Moore climbed back into the ring by the count of 18, Lacy was immediately disqualified, handing Moore the victory in one of the strangest finishes in recent heavyweight history.

With the win, Moore improves to 17-1 (10 KOs), extending his winning streak to three since his lone defeat to Torrez Jr. While the performance itself left much to be desired, Moore’s ability to keep his composure and pressure Lacy effectively will help keep him in contention for more significant bouts. However, he will need to refine his approach and work on avoiding prolonged clinching scenarios in future fights.

Lacy, on the other hand, suffered his first professional loss and now falls to 8-1-2 (6 KOs). The disqualification not only cost him the fight but also damaged his credibility as a disciplined competitor. Whether he can bounce back and learn from this experience remains to be seen.

Brandon Moore’s night in Flint was far from the debut he envisioned under Salita Promotions, but he walks away with another victory nonetheless. The fight itself may not have provided many answers about Moore’s ceiling as a contender, but it reinforced his ability to handle adversity and bizarre situations inside the ring. As for Skylar Lacy, the biggest question is whether he can adjust his style to avoid similar self-inflicted setbacks in the future.