Luka Pratljačić eliminated in controversial European Championship bout

Croatian super heavyweight boxer Luka Pratljačić was eliminated in the round of 16 at the European Boxing Championships in Sofia after a controversial stoppage in his match against Belgium’s Mohamed Walid Bourkhe.

Pratljačić held a lead on the judges' scorecards after the first two rounds. However, in the third round, the referee from Guatemala issued three consecutive counts against the Croatian boxer. Following the third count, the referee stopped the match, awarding the victory to Bourkhe.

The Croatian Boxing Federation has condemned the decision, labeling it a “scandalous verdict and a decision without precedent.” Officials argued that the counts lacked sufficient basis and that Pratljačić was not severely enough stunned to warrant a stoppage, noting that the match was being won by the Croatian champion prior to the third-round intervention.