Should Taylor have taken a knee?

Some of the stuff written on this thread is unbelievable. To call taking a knee a "bitch move" is like criticising holding when in trouble, or even dodging and blocking punches. If you're in trouble you do what you have to to survive. I'm surprised more than anything that he didn't hold more. You do what you have to do to survive. Slating something that could make all the difference not just to your chances in a fight but also to your long-term health so you don't take unnecessary punishment is often absolutely the right thing to do Taking a knee is not like clinching or moving. Your opponent can still hit you under those circumstances... it's difficult to do so, yes, but it's still allowed... and at least you're using your body in ways that are designed to prevent yourself from getting hit. When you take a knee you're not using your body, you're using the rules and the ref to keep you from getting hit. You're protected by a technicality. While the clock runs out. I can't believe that people think Taylor of all people, someone who's been railed into for the last 4 years for the controversial nature of his wins, should've used a technicality to survive the end of the 12th round, losing it 10-7, in order to win the fight by 1 point on two cards when he clearly would've been KO'd otherwise. He'd never hear the end of it. Not to mention, he thought he needed to win the last round to win the fight. He was fighting to win, and people question him for it...

Some of the stuff written on this thread is unbelievable. To call taking a knee a "bitch move" is like criticising holding when in trouble, or even dodging and blocking punches. If you're in trouble you do what you have to to survive. I'm surprised more than anything that he didn't hold more. You do what you have to do to survive. Slating something that could make all the difference not just to your chances in a fight but also to your long-term health so you don't take unnecessary punishment is often absolutely the right thing to do

you can fight your heart out for 11 and a half rounds, but if you take one knee in the 12th round to win yourself the fight it makes you a bitch? wow at you people. Im glad Froch won because it was an awesome comeback win, but had Taylor taken a knee in the 12th and won the fight because of it, I wouldnt have lost any respect for him at all.

Taking a knee would of been a smart move by Taylor. Too late now though.......

I dont agree after he got he was back on the ropes with about 30 seconds left.. took about 10 punches the ref was already looking at taylor to stop the fight so i think if he took a knee that the ref woulda stopped it

Alot of us give cotto & his fans hell about him taken a knee against tony. but if JT would have taken a knee instead of taking that punishment on the ropes think he wouldve made it to the bell? think about with 15-20 sec left. a knee wouldve used up at least 10-15 sec. 8-9 sec on a knee & bout 3-5 sec the ref asking him if he is ok. the rest of the time he could ran b/c froch wouldve been on the other side of the ring. going into the 12r taylor was up 106-102. with the kds taylor wouldve still been up 113-112. so in this case would a knee have been smart or bitch move? Although it's not something a fighter has in his mind when fighting, I was thinking, "Dammit, Taylor take a damn knee!" He could've used a rest period. I don't think he would've done it after the first knockdown, seeing as how he wasn't gonna' give Froch a 10-7 round, but he could've taken a knee to take a breather for a sec. I agree.

If he did that he would of been forever mocked like zab judah for being a bitch and saving himself by being weak so he could possible win a decision. Taylor isn't a bitch though. He went out fighting. Why would you WANT him to have done such a chicken shit thing? Taylor has some bad fans. I mean, you are so desperate for him to win, you condone making bitch moves like that? Thats sad. not a taylor fan. i like him but not a fan. im just pointing something out that if he wouldve done he wouldve won. imo it wldve been a smart. just like cotto he didnt want to get ko so he took a knee. every fighter wants to make it to the final bell. so why is it being a bitch or chicken if a fighter does what he can to not get ko?

Why would you WANT him to have done such a chicken shit thing? Taylor has some bad fans. I mean, you are so desperate for him to win, you condone making bitch moves like that? Thats sad. Not all of us Taylor fans are so dumb. I'm a huge fan and honestly have never been prouder of him than when he got up off the floor in the 12th round and tried to keep going, and then taking a huge flurry from Froch straight in his grill and was able to stay on his feet for as long as he did... Taylor's actions at the end of the fight showed me he's got what it takes in his heart to keep going in this business, to keep fighting... he's often been accused of being heartless and not a true warrior, but he should've proved everyone wrong about that with his actions in the final round against Froch.

Taylor shouldn't have taken a knee because then he would've won, then there'd be pressure for a rematch which he'd have to give and he'd get beaten even worse.

who do u think is going to win Pacman or Hatton, when and how? Vote: http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=265138

so why is it cool to run for 3 minutes & not take that knee if u in trouble? Because as long as you're on your feet, the other guy still has a chance to hit you. You can run, he can chase you. Compare that to sitting on the floor under your own power and basically getting a free 10-15 seconds where the other guy can't touch you. Sure you lose points over it, but if you're far enough ahead it doesn't really cost you anything, does it? The first strategy still gives your opponent a fair chance at hitting you... there's an element of competition to it. The second strategy takes the sport out of it... you're basically taking advantage of the rules in order to survive. For those saying it's just a sport, the W is all that matters - that's bullshit... boxing is a sport, but it's one that empasizes bravery and courage... taking advantage of the rules in order to survive in the final minutes is not what fighters do, IMO. It's not as though Taylor was winning the fight by a huge margin and Froch only swooped in at the last second to win, without really deserving it. Froch made an effort in the last 5 rounds whereas for the most part, Taylor didn't. Carl did enough in that time period that him winning by last second KO was not some sort of abomination on the sport. On the flipside, Taylor taking a knee to survive and steal the fight, when he clearly didn't have enough juice to go on, would've been an insult to most boxing fans.

so why is it cool to run for 3 minutes & not take that knee if u in trouble?

Tons and tons of great fighters have won off of taking a knee. The only reason everyone has a problem with the idea is because it was the last round but lets just say he was going to be ko'd in round 6 takes a knee and wins on points. Is it still a problem? What if Meldrick Taylor had taken a knee? Taking a knee to avoid being ko'd in the 6th round is different, because you still have 6 more rounds to come back and re-establish yourself or 6 more rounds of giving your opponent another chance to KO you. Taking a knee to kill time in the final seconds of a fight because you feel you are ahead on the cards (which he wasn't aware of) is akin to surrendering without the consequences of doing so. It's saying, "Hey, I'm done fighting you. I'm ahead and now you don't get another chance to win this fight. You've given me all I can handle but I'm still going to win." Imagine a soccer or basketball team that is ahead being able to freeze the action in the final seconds while the opposing team is going in for the game winning score, but while the clock keeps running. I know it's not in the rules for those sports and in boxing it's allowed on a technicality... while it may be the smart thing to do, it isn't very sportsmanlike. And it should be noted that Taylor's corner thought he needed to win the round to win the fight... so he was fighting to win. And many of you are second guessing him for it.

If he took a knee he still would have won it was he was up by 4 rounds. Being KD'd twice and losing the round would make it a 10-7 round he still would have won. My bad, I thought he was only up by 2 points. I missed the fight. My point about him being labelled a coward still stands.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda. And Still........................

Taylor was in a no win situation. If he took a knee, he would've lost the two points that he was ahead on the cards with, and, assuming he lasted the distance, the fight would've been a draw. Ontop of that, people would've labelled him a coward, and made fun of him on here nonstop, just like they did with Cotto when did the smart thing against Margarito, and took his knee. If he took a knee he still would have won it was he was up by 4 rounds. Being KD'd twice and losing the round would make it a 10-7 round he still would have won.

Taylor was in a no win situation. If he took a knee, he would've lost the two points that he was ahead on the cards with, and, assuming he lasted the distance, the fight would've been a draw. Ontop of that, people would've labelled him a coward, and made fun of him on here nonstop, just like they did with Cotto when did the smart thing against Margarito, and took his knee.

you pay a point if you take a knee(2 if you were winning the round), thats punishment enough and under the rules as long as something is not ilegal, its strategy, he shouldve taken one , but **** it, he is a warrior, i apppreciate him going out on his shield as well even though i wouldve liked him to win....

Unbelievable that so many are saying "the W is all that matters"... that may be true in some sports, but in boxing, the manner in which you win matters very much. I'm not saying that as a tough guy, I'm saying that as a fan of the sport... this is not amateur boxing, where the emphasis is solely on racking up more points than your opponent, this is a combat sport... if you want to see people taking knees in order to simply run out the clock, go watch American football. If Taylor had taken a knee and lost the 12th 10-7, and won a split decision, he'd get more criticism than ever for his victory. The man has had enough controversial decisions, he doesn't need another one. And don't think I'm hating on him... I'm from his hometown, I'm a big fan... but he went out like a warrior, trying not just to survive, but to win the fight, and should be commended for doing so.

he don't have to take a knee.. just clinch