Homonym: TKO (Knockout)
A TKO, or Technical Knockout, occurs in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts when a referee stops the fight because one fighter is unable to continue safely. This can happen if a fighter is taking too much damage or is unable to defend themselves effectively. The referee's decision is made to protect the health and safety of the athletes involved.
In a TKO situation, the fight is officially ended, and the opponent is declared the winner. This outcome is different from a knockout (KO), where a fighter is knocked down and unable to rise before the referee's count ends. TKOs can happen in various rounds and are a common way to conclude a match.