USUALLY fists are flailing in the ring.
But at a boxing match in Argentina, it was a set of ultras who were up for a fight.
— Tears at La Bombonera (@BomboneraTears) March 17, 2024
A bout between boxers Canónigo and Lucero had to be stopped in the last round as barra brava of River Plate, Excursionistas and Huracán fought outside the ringpic.twitter.com/aE4ISC0LjE
The setting was Almagro, Buenos Aires where Emanuel Lucero and Giuliano Canónigo were in an eagerly anticipated bout.
There were four rounds of boxing, before trouble escalated outside the ring.
Incredibly, fans of local sides River Plate, Huracan and Excursionistas got into a brawl with less than two minutes of the fourth round left.
Groups of angry ultras could be seen pushing and shoving each other, as the fight was halted.
Violence erupted further, as chairs were thrown and tempers began to escalate.
The referee had no option but to send Lucero and Canónigo to their corners before calling off the match.
Even after exiting the ring, the boxers could be seen remonstrating with the rivalling football fans.
However, it was no use as the outbreak of barbarity brought an end to proceedings.
Football ultras are beginning to rear their ugly head once again.
There is a fear that the upcoming Euros in Germany will attract a growing number of far right neo-Nazi hooligans who have been overwhelming the police across Europe.
Earlier this month, two Brighton fans were stabbed, beaten and robbed in Rome ahead of a Europa League last-16 clash.
While Bayern Munich supporters have been banned from the Emirates for next month’s clash with Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final for throwing fireworks onto the pitch in a game against Lazio.
Argentina football fans are no stranger to a fight.
Late last year, trouble broke out at the Maracana Stadium before a World Cup qualifying game between the World Cup winners and their fierce South American rivals, Brazil.
The FIFA disciplinary panel fined Brazil 50,000 Swiss francs (£44,000) for “failure to ensure that law and order are maintained” in the stadium. Argentina was fined 20,000 Swiss francs (£17,700) for “lack of order or discipline in or around the stadium.”
Argentina also was ordered to spend 50,000 Swiss francs (£44,000) on anti-discrimination education projects because of misconduct by fans at two previous World Cup qualifying games.
