Patrick Clark Disqualified in Boxing Debut as Duel Arena Faces Backlash for Racist Post

Patrick Clark Jr.’s professional boxing debut ended in a second-round disqualification Saturday night, but Duel Arena’s racially charged response afterward quickly became the more disturbing story.

Clark, best known to wrestling fans as former WWE NXT star Velveteen Dream, faced podcast host Ryan Pownall during Duel Arena 1 on August 29 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.

Pownall was officially awarded the victory by disqualification in the second round, according to MMA Fighting’s official event results.

Patrick Clark’s Debut Ends in Disqualification

The cruiserweight matchup became chaotic almost immediately.

Clark repeatedly used wrestling-style physicality that is not permitted under boxing rules, including forcing Pownall through the ropes. After further non-boxing conduct in the second round, the referee stopped the contest and disqualified Clark.

Reports indicated that Pownall had been controlling the fight before the stoppage. Fightful reported that Clark was disqualified after repeatedly shoving Pownall out of the ring.

The ending gave Pownall a victory in his own boxing debut and added another controversial chapter to Clark’s attempt to rebuild his career outside WWE.

Press-Conference Incident Set the Tone

Tension between the two competitors had already escalated during Thursday’s press conference.

Pownall mocked Clark’s career trajectory by claiming that the former WWE performer had gone from wrestling in major arenas to competing in shopping-mall food courts.

Clark attempted to confront Pownall as security intervened. He then picked up a metal pole before it was taken away and was escorted from the press conference. Clark later returned to the stage and disrupted the proceedings again, although SEScoops reported that no physical contact occurred between the fighters.

Clark’s actions at the press conference and during the fight deserved consequences. Combat-sports promotions have a responsibility to enforce rules and protect everyone involved in their events.

That responsibility does not permit a promoter to respond with racism.

Duel Arena Crosses an Unacceptable Line

Following the fight, Duel Arena’s verified X account posted what it characterized as an apology for having featured Clark.

Instead of issuing a professional statement criticizing Clark’s behavior, the account called the Black athlete a “classless, disqualified chimp.”

That wording cannot be dismissed as ordinary fight promotion, trash talk or an edgy attempt to generate engagement. Comparing a Black person to an ape is rooted in a long history of anti-Black dehumanization. The Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University documents how animalistic depictions were used to portray Black people as inferior, primitive and undeserving of equal treatment.

Duel Arena had every right to condemn Clark’s conduct, disqualify him, decline to work with him again or apologize to Pownall and the other competitors affected by the disruption.

It did not have the right to use racist language.

An organization cannot promise to “do better” by its fighters in the same statement in which it dehumanizes one of them.

Black Athletes and Fans Deserve Better

The post did not insult Patrick Clark alone.

It sent a damaging message to every Black athlete who competed for Duel Arena, every Black fighter who may consider working with the company and every Black fan who purchased a ticket or paid to watch the event.

Black athletes are not entitled to dignity only when they win, follow every rule or remain useful to a promoter. Their humanity is not conditional.

Duel Arena’s account had also reportedly used a homophobic slur while posting about Dillon Danis one day earlier. Taken together, the posts suggest a troubling communications culture in which discriminatory language is being used as promotional content.

That should concern fighters, sponsors, business partners and fans regardless of how they feel about Clark personally.

A legitimate apology would acknowledge the racist nature of the language, apologize directly to Clark and the Black community, explain how the post was approved and establish standards preventing similar conduct in the future.

Deleting the post—or calling it a joke—would not be sufficient accountability.

Two Things Can Be Wrong at the Same Time

Clark must accept responsibility for his own actions.

Attempting to confront an opponent with a metal object during a press event was dangerous. Repeatedly violating boxing rules during the fight undermined the competition and justified the referee’s intervention.

None of those actions excuse racial abuse from the company that hired and promoted him.

Condemning racism does not require defending everything Clark has done. Likewise, criticizing Clark does not require minimizing the promotion’s behavior.

Both parties can—and should—be held accountable independently.

Pownall earned the official victory. Clark’s debut ended in embarrassment. Duel Arena then made the situation significantly worse by responding with language no professional sports organization should direct at an athlete.

What Comes Next?

Clark’s future in boxing is uncertain following the disqualification. The former NXT North American Champion has made limited wrestling appearances since leaving WWE in 2021 and has publicly campaigned for another opportunity on a major stage.

Duel Arena must now answer questions about who operates its social-media accounts and whether its athletes can trust the promotion to treat them professionally when disagreements occur.

A combat-sports company’s responsibility does not end when the final bell rings. It includes protecting the dignity of the athletes whose bodies, reputations and stories are being used to sell the event.

Patrick Clark’s conduct deserved criticism.

Racism was never an acceptable response.

Which statement best reflects your view of the Patrick Clark–Duel Arena controversy?

• Both Patrick Clark and Duel Arena must be held accountable
• Duel Arena’s racist response crossed the more serious line
• Clark’s conduct during fight week remains the main issue
• I need more information before deciding