Boxing fans have reacted with shock to a bizarre mismatch as Commonwealth Games medalist Kiaran MacDonald was seen battering a veteran opponent on his professional boxing debut.

MacDonald featured on the undercard of Josh Kelly’s IBF light-middleweight title fight against Bakhram Murtazaliev on the weekend.

The 28-year-old made his professional bow against Lithuanian veteran Marius Vysniauskas, 39.

While it is common for boxers to begin professionally by facing a journeyman opponent, fans were quick to point out the mismatch between the pair.

MacDonald appeared to be towering over his opponent in the ring, with footage showing him dishing out a battering to the veteran.

Despite the obvious height disparity, Vysniauskas is listed as being taller on BoxRec at 5ft 6in compared to MacDonald’s 5ft 5in.

Fans mocked the mismatch between Kiaran MacDonald, right, and veteran Lithuanian fighter Marius Vysniauskas on the weekend
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Fans mocked the mismatch between Kiaran MacDonald, right, and veteran Lithuanian fighter Marius Vysniauskas on the weekend

MacDonald, 28, was seen battering his opponent during the contest with fans quick to highlight their difference in height
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MacDonald, 28, was seen battering his opponent during the contest with fans quick to highlight their difference in height

MacDonald earned his first professional win

Vysniauskas suffered his 28th consecutive defeat in the ring

MacDonald earned his first professional win while Vysniauskas has now lost 28 straight fights

Fans took to social media to question the matchmaking for the bantamweight contest.

One fan questioned ‘Whose Dad is he fighting?’ while another wrote ‘Couldn’t they have gotten a much smaller and much older opponent for this fight????’

‘This fight is an exhibition right? There’s no way they put this old short dude against this kid and sanctioned it,’ a third wrote.

Another simply put ‘Crazy matchmaking here.’

MacDonald would ultimately earn a points victory over Vysniauskas, with the Lithuanian fighter making it to the bell.

‘Fair play to that lad, he can take a punch,’ one fan commented in response.

While the result gave Commonwealth Games silver medalist MacDonald his first professional victory, it continued a staggering run of consecutive defeats for Vysniauskas.

Vysniauskas had begun his career with three straight wins, but has since lost 28 fights in a row.

The veteran has been a regular in the ring, notably fighting five times in six months back in 2024.

The main event would ultimately see Kelly earn the IBF light-middleweight title by beating Murtazaliev by majority decision.