Fans fighting in stands during Jose Ramirez boxing match in Fresno captured on video
A fight broke out in the stands of the Save Mart Center during the middle of the Jose Ramirez boxing match Friday night.
And a security guard who was trying to break up the brawl ended up having to defend himself.
The incident was posted on social media late Friday night with video showing at least seven men fighting during an up-close look of the melee.
A witness at the fights who attended the boxing event with his son said the drama started when three men who can be seen standing at the start of the video continued to taunt and harass various people in the stands throughout the night.
The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of safety concerns, said the trio of men caused one group of older men to move elsewhere to avoid an altercation.
But eventually, the trio of men exchanged words with someone in the stands who confronted them.
And then, things quickly turned physical.
“Those three guys who were together were walking up and down and telling people stuff, giving people dirty looks, just trying to get a reaction from them all night,” the witness said. “They were looking to intimidate.
“They said something to a guy who was probably 21 or 22 years old and was with his dad. The dad said he was done with (it) and basically said in Spanish, ‘You want some? Come get some.’ ”
Security guard thrust into fight
Within seconds of punches being thrown in the stands, several security guards arrive at the scene, video shows.
One of the security guards briefly stops a man in a white shirt from throwing more punches.
But then a big man who was wearing a baseball cap backward comes from behind the security guard and seems to either punch him in the face or wrap his arm around his neck.
The security guard can be seen throwing the attacker down a few rows.
Just as that encounter seemed to end, though, another man who was wearing a white bucket hat tries to punch the same security guard.
The security guard immediately dodges the punch and counters with a right-handed strike.
No arrests, ejections
It’s unclear how much of a distraction the fights in the stands caused.
Boxing action between Ramirez and opponent Jose Pedraza carried on without interruption, all while the crowd fight occurred during the eighth round of a 12-round bout.
Amy Luna, public information officer for Fresno State’s Department of Public Safety, confirmed a “peace disturbance” occurred during the Ramirez fight.
No arrests were made, nor was anyone escorted out of the venue.
“Fresno State Police Department Police officers responded to the incident and interviewed several people involved,” Luna said in an email. “When our officers made contact, no one identified themselves or others as a victim of the incident.
“Additionally, no one that was interviewed wanted to press charges. Since this incident took place at the end of the boxing match, all individuals left the event after being interviewed.”
Fighting at sporting events isn’t exactly new.
Nonetheless, with Friday’s boxing match held at a Fresno State facility, some immediately associated the latest brawl with the fighting that occurred in the stands during a Bulldogs football game back in November.
The witness to Friday’s fights, however, said one big difference between the two atmospheres was that fewer families and children attended Friday’s fights compared to a typical Fresno State football game.
“I’ve been to a lot of Fresno events,” the witness said. “Like everywhere else, things like this sometimes happen.
“I’m not condoning it. And it would’ve been nice if those three guys just sat down and watched the boxing. But I’m not going to make a big, big fuss about it.
“In boxing and (mixed martial arts), the crowds are a little rowdier,” he added. “This one got a little rowdy. Hopefully, no one got hurt, and no one (missed) too much of Jose’s boxing.”
This story was originally published March 6, 2022 at 6:57 AM.