Referee Amy Pu refused two attempts from Dan Garber's corner to throw in the towel before the British heavyweight was knocked out on the undercard of Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 at London's O2 Arena.
Garber, 41, was fighting for the seventh time this year against rising Irish star Adam Olaniyan, 20. Olaniyan started with purpose and, after Garber survived the first round, knocked him down early in the second.
As Garber tried to rise with the count reaching eight, his corner threw in the towel. Pu kicked it out and allowed the fight to continue once Garber was on his feet. Olaniyan then landed another huge right to floor Garber, and his corner threw in the towel again. Pu did not accept the corner's request, continued the count and eventually waved off the bout on her own accord.
Garber could be seen receiving oxygen ringside after the conclusion, sparking a furore online over Pu allowing him to take unnecessary damage.
Referees are technically allowed to refuse the throwing in of a towel as they are the only ones with authority to end a fight, with British Boxing Board of Control regulations stating that the towel does not automatically end a bout. The result took Olaniyan to 5-0 as a professional, while Garber now sits at 14-10.