Was Chavez-Taylor A Good Call?

Point taken. I should have used a word like "validated" or "verified" instead of proved. Some refs and judges definitely do protect housefighters, IMO. Cool. :fing02:

I have no problem with you stating your opinion. Ppl are entitled to say what they want. It was the fact that you said PROVED that turned me off. One or two fights does not make a trend. Point taken. I should have used a word like "validated" or "verified" instead of proved. Some refs and judges definitely do protect housefighters, IMO.

I've seen countless fights that Steele has officiated. I don't take notes on referees, but I do remember his premature stoppage in the first Tyson-Ruddock fight. I'm quite confident that if it were Tyson who was in the same position as Ruddock, the fight wouldn't have been stopped. This caused an unnecessary rematch that made King, Tyson, and of course the Nevada commission a lot of money. Since I'm not in any position of authority or responsibility, I feel free to throw out these conclusions and accusations. And I truly don't believe that Richard Steele was an ethical or particulary skilled referee, which is why I resent him taking the "looking out for the fighter" stance that he always self righteously does. I have no problem with you stating your opinion. Ppl are entitled to say what they want. It was the fact that you said PROVED that turned me off. One or two fights does not make a trend.

I think it's very thin that you, based on one fight, can come to the conclusion that Steele was a house-ref. One fight does not prove anything and is microscopically insignificant to use as an emperical evidence for the truth. If you wanna make such a conclusion you most review at least 30 fights before you can make a statiscally based conclusion. I've seen countless fights that Steele has officiated. I don't take notes on referees, but I do remember his premature stoppage in the first Tyson-Ruddock fight. I'm quite confident that if it were Tyson who was in the same position as Ruddock, the fight wouldn't have been stopped. This caused an unnecessary rematch that made King, Tyson, and of course the Nevada commission a lot of money. Since I'm not in any position of authority or responsibility, I feel free to throw out these conclusions and accusations. And I truly don't believe that Richard Steele was an ethical or particulary skilled referee, which is why I resent him taking the "looking out for the fighter" stance that he always self righteously does.

I'd like to know when Richard Steele made Tommy say that he was ok. Or if anyone has the balls to say he wasn't in worse shape than Meldrick Taylor was. This proves my point that Steele was a house ref who had different standards for different fighters. He raised the standard for Taylor so he could hand the fight to the housefighter, Chavez. Green K for posting this Manchine. I think it's very thin that you, based on one fight, can come to the conclusion that Steele was a house-ref. One fight does not prove anything and is microscopically insignificant to use as an emperical evidence for the truth. If you wanna make such a conclusion you most review at least 30 fights before you can make a statiscally based conclusion.

yes it was, taylor took alot of damage and didn't reply to the ref's question.

Here's another Richard Steele refereed fight, Thomas Hearns vs Iran Barkley. I'd like to know when Richard Steele made Tommy say that he was ok. Or if anyone has the balls to say he wasn't in worse shape than Meldrick Taylor was. This proves my point that Steele was a house ref who had different standards for different fighters. He raised the standard for Taylor so he could hand the fight to the housefighter, Chavez. Green K for posting this Manchine.

Here's another Richard Steele refereed fight, Thomas Hearns vs Iran Barkley. One of my all-time favorites. What a comeback for The Blade. Fight was definetely stopped too late though. Second KD was cosmetic and unnessecary. Steele refereed more than 100 titlefights. Overall he was one of the best all-time IMO. Always in shape and always alert.

Here's another Richard Steele refereed fight, Thomas Hearns vs Iran Barkley.

Anyone else have opinions on this? Nice points made by all.

I haven't watched the fight in a long time, as there are a few fights where the end (long term) result ruins any enjoyment I could possibly receive. There are rules in place in boxing for a reason, rules get changed and adapted sometimes. It would've been nice if there was a way to make sure the fight was paying attention to the ref and not somebody else. But if the ref asks the question and youdon't respond, I wouldn't expect him to repeat it.

worst stoppage ever....in a championship fight in the 12 round it gets stopped because Taylor was looking to his corner? horrible

People seem to forget that Taylor had a decent run after the loss. The Chavez loss did not end his career. If you want to make a case for the Norris fight being the end of Taylor, that's and easier argument. That's because people rely too much on HBO documentaries rather than looking at the bigger picture. Taylor wasn't the same, but was still a good fighter who moved up in weight and won a world title against an undefeated fighter in Davis.

People seem to forget that Taylor had a decent run after the loss. The Chavez loss did not end his career. If you want to make a case for the Norris fight being the end of Taylor, that's and easier argument. As for the stoppage, Steele made a bad one. He didn't give Taylor a chance to respond to his questions. And Chavez shouldn't have been able to even get to Taylor. But the neutral corner rule seems to go by the wayside more than a lot of others.

lmao you obviously havent seen taylor lately. What he is now is linked to the chavez fight. Taylor took a lot of beatings and punishment throughout his career. The 2 Chavez fights, G. Brown, Ramos, Espana, Norris, all those smaller fights late in his career, etc... Philly is reknowned for its gym wars, and Taylor was probably in a lot of those too. Sparring plays a big role in guys ending up brain damaged. The Chavez fight did the most damage, but Taylor's condition is from the accumulated punishment throughout his career, not just the first Chavez fight.

it's embarrasing for you as a fan to try to say meldrick taylor was not damaged from that fight. You obviously dont know anything about taylor other than he fought chavez. Taylor was a beaten man that night. Its almost sad watching those last two rights land on his face. Much respect for taylor. Its a shame they continued to let him fight luckily he didnt die. He is a warrior had his moments now has to live the rest of his life with the damage that was done that night of the chavez fight. I didn't say he wasn't damaged in that fight, just that the fight shouldn't have been stopped and that he wouldn't have taken another punch if it wasn't. Taylor was KO'd at least three more times after that fight, but you conveniently decided that all the damage came from this one. Taylor was still a good fighter after that night. Quit rewriting history to suit your agenda.

Gringo, you just watch fights differently than some of us do. That fight was not close. Taylor shone in moments - - a lot of moments, but he got pounded. Ask yourself, if there were thirteen rounds, is there any chance Taylor makes it to the end? No, if there were twelve rounds and thirty seconds . . . . . . So regardless of technicalities (not that I'm conceding those), the right man was declared winner We all watch fights differently, hence the 52/44 split in which 52 of us feel that Steele royally fucked over Mel Taylor. If by fight, you mean long-term damage, then yeah...you're right. Meldrick won the fight which took place in the ring however. If the fight is 13 rounds, does Taylor fight the same way down the stretch? If Vitali Klitschko had tougher skin, what would have happened to Lennox Lewis in their bout? If the ref called a push off foul on Michael Jordan in favor of Byron Russell in the '98 playoffs what happens? The wrong man won that night as Taylor fought the fight of his life and was not given the chance, as so many proud champions are given, to finish the fight. *you must spread aids before giving kj rep again blah blah*

Gringo, you just watch fights differently than some of us do. That fight was not close. Taylor shone in moments - - a lot of moments, but he got pounded. Ask yourself, if there were thirteen rounds, is there any chance Taylor makes it to the end? No, if there were twelve rounds and thirty seconds . . . . . . So regardless of technicalities (not that I'm conceding those), the right man was declared winner

Someone with "severe kidney damage" doesn't get a license to fight in Nevada less than five months later. Common sense would tell you that. Taylor did suffer some facial damage, but not even as bad as what Malinaggi sufferred in the Cotto fight. Did Taylor have any surgery? Was Taylor even in the hospital overnight? it's embarrasing for you as a fan to try to say meldrick taylor was not damaged from that fight. You obviously dont know anything about taylor other than he fought chavez. Taylor was a beaten man that night. Its almost sad watching those last two rights land on his face. Much respect for taylor. Its a shame they continued to let him fight luckily he didnt die. He is a warrior had his moments now has to live the rest of his life with the damage that was done that night of the chavez fight.

I don't know what manner he got up in, to be ok. I am not sure what to tell you... If you have the fight watch it again. ALL the replays show Taylor holding on to the ropes. He is in a nuetral corner and his left hand is holding the top rope and in another replay angle you see his right hand holding the third rope... now even after the fight ends and Duva is in the ring in richards face, you see he STILL hasn't let the ropes go. He actually started talking before he moved from the spot he got up in. He got up, swooned from being caught with a great shot, and stabilized himself with the aid of the ropes. He wasn't draped in the ropes, as I remember he was standing straight up. Doesn't matter if he didn't move, he just got out of a grueling brawl and was in shock from being stopped. Seems reasonable that the guy would be devastated by something like that. This is the greatest fight I have seen in my life. It is my favorite fight as well for a great many reasons. The action, the level of talent in the ring, and the exciting, albeit heinous conclusion made it a special fight for me. I have seen it plenty of times, more than enough to feel quite strongly about my opinion of the outcome. More than enough times to understand and consider both sides of the argument. More than enough times to know that Richard Steele FUCKED Meldrick Taylor out of the greatest win of his life.