When should a fight be stopped US vs European interpretation

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the general consensus (from the UK side) is that fights are normally stopped earlier in Europe - American refs seem to give a little more time for fighters to get that one punch in. The following classic heavyweight fight between Shavers and Tiger Williams would have been stopped in Europe (and possibly now even in the US) in favour of Williams, but for those of you that haven't seen it sorry for the obvious spoiler!! You have to bear in mind that Shavers was one of the ALL TIME biggest hitters in the heavyweights. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRr3sHbANRI The argument for stopping earlier, to avoid unecessary harm to the fighter, has to be balanced against the sheer courage of the participants and the fact that it is potentially their livelihood you are affecting. Life vs Livelihood - Gald I'm not a ref. The opposite end of the spectrum was the Manfredo stoppage, he would still have been humiliated, but he should have been given a little more time. It will be especially interesting to see if our cousins accross the pond believe that the first point is still true of US referees Enjoy the clip and please feel free to debate

Comments (4)

steptwome

True my friend, that's why I wouldn't want the job - you can't foresee the consequences but the ref and the other fighter have to live with them. What's your personal take on the Shavers fight? Would it have been stopped today both sides of the pond? I think it would I agree with you 100%. It would have been stopped

18y ago

Degsy

We'll leave that to the discretion of the ref. Flash back: No one anticipated the fate Doo Koo Kim would encounter after the barrage of punches he received from Ray Mancini. When a fighter reaches survival mode {"The argument for stopping earlier, to avoid unecessary harm to the fighter, has to be balanced against the sheer courage of the participants and the fact that it is potentially their livelihood you are affecting. Life vs Livelihood"} An act of sheer courage or instinctive reaction? True my friend, that's why I wouldn't want the job - you can't foresee the consequences but the ref and the other fighter have to live with them. What's your personal take on the Shavers fight? Would it have been stopped today both sides of the pond? I think it would

18y ago

steptwome

18y ago

Degsy

thanks for the first two comments - I couldn't have wished for two such opposing views so early in the post. No need for 'yank or limey bashing' though the argument is emotive enough anyway!! But I know how much stick you take from some of them Peroxide so as a fellow JC man I'll let you off

18y ago