still confused about the calzaghe stoppage

Watching it again it looks like the Referee made the decision to stop it after Manfredo got knocked almost over the ropes and took four or five clean punches right through his guard. The ref had made his decision when Manfredo started bobbing and weaving. Could be wrong and I still think it was too soon to stop the fight, but I don't think the outcome would have been terribly different if it had been allowed to continue. If it had gone on for another six rounds (which was my prediction) then Manfredo would have been a wreck. Forget round three, watch round two for how the fight would have panned out if Manfredo hadn't retreated to the ropes.

stoppages are based on a fighter not being able to defend themselves,thats the whole idea of a stoppage,isnt it? My point is the ref didn't have the right to stop that fight based on Fredo not defending himself, since Fredo was holding his hands high and was not a stationary target. Hhe showed signs of a guy who's still able to think. meaning he was not defenseless.

robjr you'll just hate on Calzaghe no matter what he does, lets wait and hear what you have to say when Calzaghe embarrases Taylor and then moves onto kessler and beats him too git real son..

People need to stop being so ridiculous and over-the-top. It was nowhere NEAR the worst stoppage in boxing history. I didnt agree with the stoppage and absolutely think that Manfredo should've been given a standing 8 and told to start throwing punches or the fight would be stopped. But I understand the ref's mindset. As far as he was concerned, Calzaghe threw maybe 40 unanswered punches, he was only just starting to unload. Manfredo was defending but was not even attempting to swing back. The only way the fight was going to go was with Calzaghe continuing to pummel Manfredo on the ropes until he knocked him out. What is the point in allowing that to continue other than to satiate bloodthirst? 40 UNANSWERED PUNCHES? How many landed? Just because u throwing punches doesn't mean that should warrant a stoppage. He didn't land not 1 significant punch in that whole exchange. If mANfredo had opened up to hit back, Joe would of landed something significant. manfredo did what he should have did and maybe he should have moved from off the ropes. I know that Winky definitely will not go over there and fight him. That fight was the most ridiculous fight I have seen in a long time.

should of let it continue for entertainment value. Agreed, with a packed arena who wants to see some BS stoppage.

yup should of let it continue for entertainment value.

All refs are paid to stop the fight when a fighter is in danger or is not fighting back.

The reff was paid too stop the fight

People need to stop being so ridiculous and over-the-top. It was nowhere NEAR the worst stoppage in boxing history. I didnt agree with the stoppage and absolutely think that Manfredo should've been given a standing 8 and told to start throwing punches or the fight would be stopped. But I understand the ref's mindset. As far as he was concerned, Calzaghe threw maybe 40 unanswered punches, he was only just starting to unload. Manfredo was defending but was not even attempting to swing back. The only way the fight was going to go was with Calzaghe continuing to pummel Manfredo on the ropes until he knocked him out. What is the point in allowing that to continue other than to satiate bloodthirst?

That was the worst stoppage in boxing history damn near. And people on here wonder why Americans with something to lose dont won't to go across the pond. it's because of decisions like that, that was ridiculous. Calzaghe didn't land not 1 significant punch in that whole barrage of punches and hte ref stopped it. He wasn't knocked down, he wasn't falling over, and he was ducking punches and covering up. That never would have been a stoppage over here, that's all i got to say!!

stoppages are based on a fighter not being able to defend themselves,thats the whole idea of a stoppage,isnt it? Manfredo was defending himself, but the bottom line is that there is no doubt that Calzaghe would have went on to win the fight, and could possibly have done serious damage as Manfredo was clearly out of his league. Simple as that. Yes the stoppage was premature, but the referee was effectively saving Manfredo from further punishment, which did Calzaghe no favours.

BTW this is my really old ID. I'm away from home and entered the wrong details. This is actually Monkeyboy. Anybody wants to chat or flame me, aim for that one.

Nothing else really to be said except that it was one of the worst stoppages in history.

That doesn't make sense, why would he lose in the US? Would Manfredo suddenly remember that boxing involves throwing punches? Lol. Funny Piggy. Standing 8 and warning should have been given. Premature stoppage no doubt. But dammit, Manfredo was in the wrong ring tonight. This whole fight was farcical. C'mon Calzhage, fight someone with a pulse. There were no winners in that fight. The ref was an ass, Manfredo should be back losing to reality TV fighters, Calzhage should never have taken this piss-easy fight, The promoters should never push such an obvious mismatch. I was actually able to be home for this fight and I didn't bother watching (and I have never turned off a boxing match before) cause I knew this fight was going to be stupid. I didn't know that the ref was going to make it even worse but there was no doubt it was going to suck. BTW for those people who seem a little deluded, I watched the clips before the stoppage and while Manfredo's gloves were up and getting in the way, Calzhage's punches were going through and round them. If you watch the footage Calzhage makes contact with at least 80% of those unanswered punches. Stupid end to a pointless fight. NEXT!!!!!!!!

anyone who says good stoppage should never watch a fight again....apparently you have no shame on what happened....we all know calzaghe would have won the fight...but to not believe in your fighter enough to risk any more rounds by stopping a fight way too early is pathetic...Calzaghe will never fight in the United states because he would easily lose... That doesn't make sense, why would he lose in the US? Would Manfredo suddenly remember that boxing involves throwing punches?

robjr you'll just hate on Calzaghe no matter what he does, lets wait and hear what you have to say when Calzaghe embarrases Taylor and then moves onto kessler and beats him too

get calzaghe to do it. thats how he punches.

That stoppage was crap. That ref was a joke. Ok , yah maybe Manfredo was gonna lose that fight but c'mon... That was a farce, an absolute farce. I like Calzaghe. He is a classy dude. It wasnt his fault, he was doing his job but that ref needs to be bitched slapped.

amen amen!!! you said it

nahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.