Maccarinelli-Frenkel. Referee Meronen explains himself.

[BattlingNelson]

In an interview in danish tabloid ekstrabladet, the referee in the fight between Enzo Maccarinell and Alexander Frenkel explains his action in lieu of the brutal KO suffered by the welshman.

"Macca foes down in round 7 after having won most of the previous rounds. He gets up at the count of 7. Raises his hands when I ask him to and he looks me in the eyes. He stood on his legs. He wanted to continue so I dont think I could do anything but give him the chance. He was leading a fight for the EBU-title and he wanted to defend his belt."

Meronen adds:

"I've seen fighters in Finland stand up even though they where almost entirely out and then continue to win the fight. But had I known what was about to happen of course I wouldn't have allowed Maccarinelli to continue."

On the second KD Meronen says: "I can hardly think about it. Tragic. But you know. Boxing is a tough sport".

On Macca's corner: "They told me I did right in letting him continue. On the other hand the germans thought the fight should have been stopped".

Meronen concludes: "I have the greatest respt for Maccarinelli. He's a very fair and very great athlete. A man of the old school. I will try to reach him or his address. Write him a letter to explain why I did what I did".

[Mickey Gomez]

Thanks Bat was looking for some comment from him. Kinda feel for him he thought he was doing right but Macca was completely out of it.

[BattlingNelson]

Thanks Bat was looking for some comment from him. Kinda feel for him he thought he was doing right but Macca was completely out of it.

Yeah. When seeing the fight I was shocked that Macca was allowed to continue. His legs trembled and his eyes was all over the place. The referee is to blame, but his corner just as much as they better than anybody knew Macca's history of getting KTFO.

[paulf]

Watching the fight, i was hoping he would be allowed to continue. He was indeed winning, and got up at seven. If he had been able to hold and weather the storm he could have boxed safe the rest of the fight; he had become really careless the last few rounds and was leaving himself wide open.

Heartbreaking loss. I was never a huge fan but I was pulling for him.

[S.G.]

I don't think the ref made any major error. Wouldn't have complained if he'd waved it off after allowing Enzo to get back up and having a look at his eyes/checking to see if he's wobbly, etc. but I'm also not complaining that he allowed the defending EU champ who was probably some way ahead on the cards a chance at recovering.

I'm more pissed at the early stoppages from the card.

[Uturn]

I think the ref just made a mistake on going Mac to much respect which is understandable. If Mac was knocked down again not so brutally then no doubt the ref would have stopped it. It's just we never knew how brutal the ending was going to be! I think the ref was giving Mac a second chance as he got up, obviously wanted to continue, although a bad decision.