Boxing has given us some of the most incredible feats of athleticism, grit, and drama in all of sport — but let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just downright weird. Whether it’s a bizarre interruption, a ringside meltdown, or a moment of pure slapstick chaos, the strangest boxing moments tend to live long in the memory — and even longer on YouTube.
So if you’re in the mood for a laugh (or a second-hand cringe), here’s a list of boxing’s most surreal, ridiculous, and oddly brilliant moments caught on camera.
When the Trainers Start Swinging Too
You expect punches between the fighters — but not from the corner! One of the strangest boxing moments ever recorded came when Roger Mayweather leapt into the ring mid-fight in 2006 to go after Zab Judah’s father. It was chaos. Security jumped in, the referee lost control, and for a minute or two, it looked more like WWE than the sweet science.
It’s not the only time corners have lost the plot — there’s been shouting matches, thrown stools, and even someone trying to bite an official. Gloves off, dignity gone.
The Time a Cat Crashed the Ring
Yes, really. In 2018, during a low-key undercard bout in Russia, a stray cat sprinted into the ring mid-round. The fighters froze. The ref didn’t know whether to laugh or call a time-out. The cat? It just strutted across the canvas like it owned the place.
You can’t make it up. Easily one of the strangest boxing moments we’ve ever seen — and the feline even got its own fanbase afterwards.
Wardrobe Malfunction at the Weigh-In
We’ve all seen the weigh-in staredowns — tense, intense, sometimes a bit daft. But Derek Chisora once turned up wearing nothing but a Union Jack hat, socks, and… a smile. He’s not the only one to misjudge his outfit: from too-tight trousers splitting mid-pose to flags falling off in the wind, boxing weigh-ins have served up plenty of awkward fashion fails.
They might not affect the fight, but they’re definitely a win for comedy.
When the Ref Forgot the Rules
Imagine training for months… only for the referee to have a shocker. One of the lesser-known but truly strangest boxing moments happened in a 2010 undercard fight where the referee stopped the bout — then restarted it — then stopped it again — then restarted it again. No one knew what was going on. Not the fighters. Not the crowd. Probably not even the ref.
Officials usually don’t make the headlines, but when they do, it’s rarely for the right reasons.
The Mystery of the Vanishing Mouthguard
Some fighters spit their gumshield out to buy a breather — others seem to lose it entirely. In one strange incident during a featherweight scrap, the same mouthguard flew out four times in two rounds. At one point, the ref looked more like a babysitter than a judge.
We’ll never know if it was bad fitting or tactical time-wasting, but it’s gone down as one of those strangest boxing moments that leaves everyone scratching their heads.
So, Why Do These Moments Matter?
Because boxing isn’t just blood and belts. It’s unpredictable, human, messy — and sometimes hilarious. These surreal clips remind us that even at the highest level, the sport still has space for oddity. And in a world of hyper-serious pre-fight promos and intense rivalries, it’s good to be reminded that boxing can still make us laugh.
Seen Anything Stranger?
Got a favourite weird boxing moment of your own? A brawl in the crowd, a fan jumping the ropes, or a fighter dancing mid-round? Drop a comment, share your favourite clips, and head over to CMBoxing for more boxing takes, deep dives, and daily opinion pieces that punch above their weight.
Let’s hear your picks — the weirder, the better.