Taylor/Chavez 1990

Yes he should have let it continue because there would have been nothing to continue to. Chavez didn't knock him out in my opinion. No, the stoppage would have still been questionable. The stoppage is not questionable on Richard Steele's part. Simple as that.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but IMO if Taylor was so aware then why not use his initiative and make the referee aware that he was okay to continue the fight? He wasn't okay to continue, and yes, Duva may have been a distraction, but had Meldrick Taylor been aware then he would have also been listening to the count, and to the referee. I'm not saying he wasn't buzzing; but who wouldn't be after that right hand? Have you ever been hit so hard you heard "the tone" as I like to call it? It drowns out everything. I honestly don't think Mel heard Steele speaking clearly and just presumed that Richard would let him go on because he got up so early in the count. That presumption and the distraction is what cost him the fight. He should have been looking directly at Steele, he should have said "yes, I'm okay" loud and clear. I'm not saying Steele shouldn't have stopped the fight. I believe he was well within his right and job to do so given what Taylor showed him and given the punishment that Taylor had taken all night. I'm just saying it's tragic for Taylor because I feel the fight was stopped more due to him taking a boxing tradition for granted and Lou's mistake of climbing on the steps than it was stopped because he was hurt. If Duva never started climbing those steps, Mel never looks at anyone but Steele, he gives the nod, Richard waves them back together, the bell rings, and Taylor gets the win. For Chavez it was one of the most dramatic knock-outs ever. For Taylor, it was one of the most tragic chain of events, outside of a ring deat, to ever occur. I feel for him; but I take nothing away from Chavez, nor do I blame Steele.

I've seen the footage. Another camera angle than the one used during the fight clearly shows Lou on the ring steps, his left hand on the ring post, with a towel in his hand.....and Taylor was focussing right on him. Taylor was not out.....exhausted and hurt; but not unconscious, nor unaware. I understand the point you're trying to make, but IMO if Taylor was so aware then why not use his initiative and make the referee aware that he was okay to continue the fight? He wasn't okay to continue, and yes, Duva may have been a distraction, but had Meldrick Taylor been aware then he would have also been listening to the count, and to the referee.

He was concussed. There was no attempt by him to show Steele that he was ok to continue. Maybe there wouldn't have been enough time for Chavez to inflict more damage, but would Steele know this for sure? Taylor was in a terrible state. Steele did his job, but was criticised. Had he let the fight continue he may have been criticised a lot more. I've seen the footage. Another camera angle than the one used during the fight clearly shows Lou on the ring steps, his left hand on the ring post, with a towel in his hand.....and Taylor was focussing right on him. Taylor was not out.....exhausted and hurt; but not unconscious, nor unaware.

If Steele knew that the fight was just about to end but waved it off anyways, then I think it was wrong... The end of the fight would have saved the fighter so there would be no reason to stop it. If he wasn't really aware of the time because he was focused on Taylor, then I am okay with the stoppage. But he didn't know exactly how much time was left. I think the lights or something were on that indicated 10 seconds were left, but all that doesnt tell him exactly how much time is left. 10 seconds is still enough time for Chavez to get off a shot or 2 if Talyor was really out on his feet.

Bodyshots are just underated!

Yes he should have let it continue because there would have been nothing to continue to. Chavez didn't knock him out in my opinion. No, the stoppage would have still been questionable. He didn't even answer the ref. If you ask me, the fight should have been stopped after the 10th round. Fucken Taylor was pissing blood for weeks.

So to you the ref should have said," You know what,Taylor looks really fucked up but theres only about two seconds left....I'll let it continue"...??? That would have been injustice to Chavez, because regardless of 2 seconds being left, Chavez knocked him out with the time he was give of 12 three minute rounds. So I'm guessing if Taylor "wasn't" winning leading to the 12th, the stoppage wouldn't have been questionable? Chavez won fair and square. Yes he should have let it continue because there would have been nothing to continue to. Chavez didn't knock him out in my opinion. No, the stoppage would have still been questionable.

If Steele knew that the fight was just about to end but waved it off anyways, then I think it was wrong... The end of the fight would have saved the fighter so there would be no reason to stop it. If he wasn't really aware of the time because he was focused on Taylor, then I am okay with the stoppage. So to you the ref should have said," You know what,Taylor looks really fucked up but theres only about two seconds left....I'll let it continue"...??? That would have been injustice to Chavez, because regardless of 2 seconds being left, Chavez knocked him out with the time he was give of 12 three minute rounds. So I'm guessing if Taylor "wasn't" winning leading to the 12th, the stoppage wouldn't have been questionable? Chavez won fair and square.

If Steele knew that the fight was just about to end but waved it off anyways, then I think it was wrong... The end of the fight would have saved the fighter so there would be no reason to stop it. If he wasn't really aware of the time because he was focused on Taylor, then I am okay with the stoppage.

Taylor didn't looked hurt when I first saw the fight, I was mad as hell when the ref stopped it, however, after watching it again I saw it was a good stoppage. Taylor was never the same fighter after that nor the same guy, he went on losing streaks and soon started mumbling, I think that may have to do with the shots he took on that fight, even if they didn't looked hard enough to spectators, they obviously had an effect on him.

Any which way I respect Taylor and wish he didnt end up how he did, I Wish we had more fighters like him, he was a good slick boxer with alot of talent but he still cared about the public and wanted to be entertaining, unlike other fighters these days.

In any case you can't blame Steele. K-Dogg has a point, inasmuch as Taylor was looking to his corner. It's hard to tell whther he was out or just distracted. Maybe only Taylor knows for sure. Maybe even he doesn't know. He was concussed. There was no attempt by him to show Steele that he was ok to continue. Maybe there wouldn't have been enough time for Chavez to inflict more damage, but would Steele know this for sure? Taylor was in a terrible state. Steele did his job, but was criticised. Had he let the fight continue he may have been criticised a lot more.

In any case you can't blame Steele. K-Dogg has a point, inasmuch as Taylor was looking to his corner. It's hard to tell whther he was out or just distracted. Maybe only Taylor knows for sure. Maybe even he doesn't know.

It was an not necessesary to stop the fight; but given the circumstances....Taylor's lack of response to Steele....it, unfortunately, is understandable. Duva was climbing onto the apron during the count, Taylor, thinking he was aobut to stop the fight, focussed on Lou, ignoring Steele during a critical moment. Broke my heart for him to tell you the truth. I Disagree. I think it was necessary to stop the fight. Taylor was out on his feet. He wasn't responding to Steele, and Steele had a job to do and he did it! Richard Steele wasn't the time keeper, he was the referee.

i suggest you watch the fight again look at meldricks face and look at the punches that where bouncing off his head. steele stopping the fight early is bullshit he gave him 2 chances to answer him and he didn't. no matter how long is left in the fight he has to answer the ref after a kd. if anybody robbed taylor of the fight it was lou duva with his shit advice and childish jumping up and down on the ring apron. watch hbo legendary nights tale of chavez taylor that should answer alot of your questions. Exactly. The ref has no authority to allow the time left in the fight to alter his decision regarding a KO/TKO.

when he was interviewed for legendary nights duva said his advice going into the last round was dance, dance, dance move, move, move make em believe your mohammad ali in there, have fun in there but dont fight. then cut to the video of the fight- lou's advice is;- the fights hanging on this round here mel. all i could think of when i seen it was WHAT A LYING TWAT. come on lou be a fucking man and admit that you fucked up!! i think he owes taylor that!! Maximum respect, my friend You've read the fight good and proper...

It was an not necessesary to stop the fight; but given the circumstances....Taylor's lack of response to Steele....it, unfortunately, is understandable. Duva was climbing onto the apron during the count, Taylor, thinking he was aobut to stop the fight, focussed on Lou, ignoring Steele during a critical moment. Broke my heart for him to tell you the truth. when he was interviewed for legendary nights duva said his advice going into the last round was dance, dance, dance move, move, move make em believe your mohammad ali in there, have fun in there but dont fight. then cut to the video of the fight- lou's advice is;- the fights hanging on this round here mel. all i could think of when i seen it was WHAT A LYING TWAT. come on lou be a fucking man and admit that you fucked up!! i think he owes taylor that!!

Folks I know it's an age old debate, but I'm new to this forum, and I really don't fancy trawling through the past pages to see if anyone covered this before. So, what's the deal? Did Richard Steele stop it unnecessarily? Was Taylor dying on his feet? Was Chavez dying on his feet? Did Taylor look out of it? I had Taylor well ahead until 12, but Chavez hammered him for 2 and a bit minutes of the last round, and possibly ruined him. Hung jury...give me your thoughts people Ian It was an not necessesary to stop the fight; but given the circumstances....Taylor's lack of response to Steele....it, unfortunately, is understandable. Duva was climbing onto the apron during the count, Taylor, thinking he was aobut to stop the fight, focussed on Lou, ignoring Steele during a critical moment. Broke my heart for him to tell you the truth.

not really seeings how taylor would have been ruined anyways ... chaves woulda just picked up his belts agian and kept going ...