Richard Steele, has forever been freed from the shackles of criticism

Mosley v Mayorga was not a controversial stoppage. Chavez v Taylor was. Hence, there are inherent differences in the situations, and due to this undeniable fact, these fights are not comparable. Look Simon, quit being so simple. Its not about the stoppage. Its about the circumstance. Both Taylor and Mayorga got up from knockdowns. In both fights, one was stopped with 5 seconds left on the clock while the other was allowed to continue. A final, damaging blow was landed with 5 seconds left. Something that detractors of Chavez victory have said would be impossible to do, which Mosley with his punch, proved otherwise.

Mosley v Mayorga was not a controversial stoppage. Chavez v Taylor was. Hence, there are inherent differences in the situations, and due to this undeniable fact, these fights are not comparable.

He would not have been given the same time he would have been given 3 seconds less than Mosley got and Mosely is the faster puncher. Chavez was not in striking distance he was coming over to the middle of the ring when the fight was stopped, it's illegal to wait anywhere other than the neutral corner. By the time Steele stepped out of the way to let Chavez move in it would have taken 1 second that would have given Chavez a second to run across the ring and attack Taylor. Regardless what happened happened and the stoppage was just because it doesn't matter what time you make it if the fighter is hurt enough the fight should be stopped BUT Chavez had less time to get his attack off at the end and would not have been able to stop Taylor with 2-1 seconds left and Chavez is one of the favourite fighters. Chavez was already creeping in for another shot as Steele waved the fight off. Mosley last night proved that its possible to land one final blow with few precious seconds left on the clock. Both had about 5 seconds to do damage. One was allowed to, the other wasn't. However, Mosley showed how much time is actually needed to land a vicious shot.

and how does that dispute what actually happened? Fact, Mosley scored a knockout when Mayorga was allowed to continue the fight, with 5 seconds left. If you've seen the Taylor fight, you'll notice Chavez was already within striking distance when the fight was waved off. To be honest, I was surprised as anyone that Mosley was able to get that final shot off, but he did in fact, land a final shot. Evidence that Chavez could have indeed done the same with the alloted time frame. He would not have been given the same time he would have been given 3 seconds less than Mosley got and Mosely is the faster puncher. Chavez was not in striking distance he was coming over to the middle of the ring when the fight was stopped, it's illegal to wait anywhere other than the neutral corner. By the time Steele stepped out of the way to let Chavez move in it would have taken 1 second that would have given Chavez a second to run across the ring and attack Taylor. Regardless what happened happened and the stoppage was just because it doesn't matter what time you make it if the fighter is hurt enough the fight should be stopped BUT Chavez had less time to get his attack off at the end and would not have been able to stop Taylor with 2-1 seconds left and Chavez is one of the favourite fighters.

Steele stopped the Chavez/Taylor fight! Mosley's left hook stopped his fight, not the ref. Bad comparison. You really don't get the point do you?

The difference is Taylor got up and the count wasn't finished the fight was stopped with 5 seconds left but if the count had gone to 8 it would have been 2 seconds left and Chavez would not have made it across the ring Steele already finished his count and had already asked Taylor questions. Or, are you saying that Steele stopped in the middle of his count to ask Meldrick a question? lol. Had he let him continue rather than asking him questions, there would have been enough time to land another shot.

Steele stopped the Chavez/Taylor fight! Mosley's left hook stopped his fight, not the ref. Bad comparison.

You haven't watched the entire fight then, Mayorga got up with 5 seconds left and Mosely RAN across the ring shot a left hook and put him down with 2 seconds left and then the fight was stopped Mayorga didn't get up for another few minutes. and how does that dispute what actually happened? Fact, Mosley scored a knockout when Mayorga was allowed to continue the fight, with 5 seconds left. If you've seen the Taylor fight, you'll notice Chavez was already within striking distance when the fight was waved off. To be honest, I was surprised as anyone that Mosley was able to get that final shot off, but he did in fact, land a final shot. Evidence that Chavez could have indeed done the same with the alloted time frame.

Steele wasn't the time keeper, he called it fair as he believed Taylor didn't look like he could continue at that point in time. Taylor struggled to beat the count, was slumped in the corner, leaning on the ropes, and was looking right in Steele's face when asked if he could continue; he was unresponsive and than looked away as he was asked again. Giving him time to clear his head and seek his corner's advice would be unfair stalling I'd say. People are asking that Steele make an exception for Taylor because he fought hard and there was so little time left and that wouldn't have been fair to Chavez as he also fought a tough fight and deserved a win. This is something that needs to be let go. Yeah, I guess. The fight will always be debated, nevertheless. There were a number of criticisms (by way of both parties) regarding that call featured in HBO's Legendary Fights: -Steele was criticized for not acknowledging that the red lights on the corners were on, indicating that the final 10 seconds of the round were in effect. -Lou Duva was criticized for getting up on the apron (but not inside the ring) and distracting Taylor momentarily, causing more time to be wasted while the referee questioned Taylor whether or not he could go on. I'm sure there was another (third) criticism, but don't remember at the moment what it was.

Actually, the second knockdown is what prompted me to make this thread. It provides clear evidence that a fighter can indeed land a final damaging blow with 5 seconds left in the fight. It refutes a point that so many have tried to make in the last 15 years regarding Richard Steeles decision to stop the fight based on a fighters ability to land a final damaging blow. The difference is Taylor got up and the count wasn't finished the fight was stopped with 5 seconds left but if the count had gone to 8 it would have been 2 seconds left and Chavez would not have made it across the ring

apparently you didn't see the second knockdown... Actually, the second knockdown is what prompted me to make this thread. It provides clear evidence that a fighter can indeed land a final damaging blow with 5 seconds left in the fight. It refutes a point that so many have tried to make in the last 15 years regarding Richard Steeles decision to stop the fight based on a fighters ability to land a final damaging blow.

The situations are not comparable? Lets see Taylor gets up from a knockdown Mayorga gets up from a knockdown Taylors fight is stopped with 5 seconds on the clock. Mayorga is motioned to fight with 5 seconds on the clock. How is that not comparable? You haven't watched the entire fight then, Mayorga got up with 5 seconds left and Mosely RAN across the ring shot a left hook and put him down with 2 seconds left and then the fight was stopped Mayorga didn't get up for another few minutes.

The difference is, Taylor had been knocked down once, not twice, and Steele had only counted to 5, meaning Taylor should have gotten at least 3 more seconds, and then there would have been 2 seconds for Chavez to cross the ring and land a shot. Not possible. The situations are not comparable. The situations are not comparable? Lets see Taylor gets up from a knockdown Mayorga gets up from a knockdown Taylors fight is stopped with 5 seconds on the clock. Mayorga is motioned to fight with 5 seconds on the clock. How is that not comparable?

I don't know what fight you saw, but I clearly saw Mayorga get up from a knockdown and motioned to continue fighting with 5 seconds left. apparently you didn't see the second knockdown...

Just like Shane Mosley didn't just land a fight ending punch on Mayorga half an hour ago? Richard Steele waved the fight off when there was five seconds left on the clock. The same amount of time was left when the ref let Mosley take a shot at Mayorga. KO. The difference is, Taylor had been knocked down once, not twice, and Steele had only counted to 5, meaning Taylor should have gotten at least 3 more seconds, and then there would have been 2 seconds for Chavez to cross the ring and land a shot. Not possible. The situations are not comparable.

Mayorga didn't get up, I don't know what fight you saw, but I clearly saw Mayorga get up from a knockdown and motioned to continue fighting with 5 seconds left.

Mayorga didn't get up, Taylor did. Taylor was almost up and the count was only at 5 so he could have been effectively saved by the bell if he got up, Mayorga was on the floor he couldn't

Dude, nobody has ever disputed what the rules say. But, what the rules say and what happens are two separate entities. I think its rare that a fighter actually stays in the corner until a full count is given. Perhaps the rule needs to be enforced more, so what would you propose for an infraction during an exciting and critical moment during a fight? Simple. The fight can't resume until the fighter has come from a neutral corner, even if the final bell rings first. In baseball even when you hit a home run you still have to touch all the bases before it counts. Either change the rule or enforce it.

The rules state that the fight can't resume unless the standing fighter has started from a neutral corner. All you people who claim that the clock doesn't matter, the fighter didn't respond adequately, etc are going to have to accept all the rules as they are written. According to the rules the standing fighter can't be lurking around the fallen one, whether it is the first minute or the last minute of the fight. Mosley should have had to return from a neutral corner, and IMO Mayorga should have been given a full 10 count to get up. Dude, nobody has ever disputed what the rules say. But, what the rules say and what happens are two separate entities. I think its rare that a fighter actually stays in the corner until a full count is given. Perhaps the rule needs to be enforced more, so what would you propose for an infraction during an exciting and critical moment during a fight?

More often than not, fighters don't stay in the neutral corner. Many times, they start slowly walking toward their opponent as the ref is finishing a count and making sure the knocked down man is ok. The ref can't force a man to the corner and count to 10 at the same time. The reason why Mosley himself was so close. The rules state that the fight can't resume unless the standing fighter has started from a neutral corner. All you people who claim that the clock doesn't matter, the fighter didn't respond adequately, etc are going to have to accept all the rules as they are written. According to the rules the standing fighter can't be lurking around the fallen one, whether it is the first minute or the last minute of the fight. Mosley should have had to return from a neutral corner, and IMO Mayorga should have been given a full 10 count to get up.