Now that Fenech's loss to Nelson has been overturned.....

[JAB5239]

When it's a big, meaningful championship fight my view is you let the fighters decide it. The ref should never stick his nose in to influence the outcome.

But the fighters did decide it. Taylor couldn't or wouldn't respond to Steele's commands. And with all do respect, this was reinforced by Taylor's trip and stay in the hospital. I was on spring break at the time in Tijuana was rooting for Taylor.

[Willie Pep 229]

Taylor never let's go of the ropes. He needs them to stay up. Steele tries to grab Taylor's left arm to take if off the the rope, and pull it to his chest so to rub off Taylor's gloves. But Taylor won't let go of the rope. It's then that Steele waves off the fight. Taylor couldn't balance himself without holding onto the rope. Taylor was out on his feet. Taylor was KOed.

Watch the fight, watch Taylor get up, watch him grab the rope to steady himself, watch Steele try to get Taylor to let go of the rope.

If you want to see it you will, if you want a Taylor excuse you won't see it.

P.S. Actually Taylor is holding himself up with both gloves grabbing both ropes. Steele reaches an 8 count and tries to grab both of Taylor's arms to pull him off the ropes; Taylor won't let go. Taylor was not showing Steele in any manner that he could still fight or that he could even stand on his own without support.

And the rules say, if it's the ropes holding you up, your down.

[ShoulderRoll]

But the fighters did decide it. Taylor couldn't or wouldn't respond to Steele's commands. And with all do respect, this was reinforced by Taylor's trip and stay in the hospital. I was on spring break at the time in Tijuana was rooting for Taylor.

Taylor got beaten up badly and was pissing blood afterwards. We all know the story.

But he was still on his feet. Let him get knocked out or have his corner throw in the towel. He earned the right to go out on his shield, as was always the mentality back in the old days.

That's my take on it, though, and I realize many fans these days prefer a quicker stoppage in the interest of safety.

[JAB5239]

Taylor got beaten up badly and was pissing blood afterwards. We all know the story.

But he was still on his feet. Let him get knocked out or have his corner throw in the towel. He earned the right to go out on his shield, as was always the mentality back in the old days.

That's my take on it, though, and I realize many fans these days prefer a quicker stoppage in the interest of safety.

Look, I respect your views. But I disagree here. If there were a minute left there wouldn't be an argument. I'll say it again.....the refs job isn't to look at the clock but to evaluate the figher.

[ShoulderRoll]

Look, I respect your views. But I disagree here. If there were a minute left there wouldn't be an argument. I'll say it again.....the refs job isn't to look at the clock but to evaluate the figher.

Leave the clock completely out of it.

My argument is the championship should be decided with a fighter knocked out or on the judges cards. Not by a ref making a controversial judgment call to stop it.

But we can agree to disagree.

[JAB5239]

Leave the clock completely out of it.

My argument is the championship should be decided with a fighter knocked out or on the judges cards. Not by a ref making a controversial judgment call to stop it.

But we can agree to disagree.

Fair enough. My argument is the championship should be determined by the rules. To me, ot doesn't matter how much time is left, and it's not the refs hob to determine that either. It is what it is.

[QueensburyRules]

Taylor got beaten up badly and was pissing blood afterwards. We all know the story.

But he was still on his feet. Let him get knocked out or have his corner throw in the towel. He earned the right to go out on his shield, as was always the mentality back in the old days.

That's my take on it, though, and I realize many fans these days prefer a quicker stoppage in the interest of safety.

- - Even then the ref's job is to assess the fighter, and Taylor was unable to respond verbally or reflexively other than to hold on to the ropes with a vacant look of a dead man.

Duva had been on the ring apron well away from Pea's corner screaming, at Taylor and Steele, the most blatant DQ I've ever seen until Uncle Roger stormed the ring to fight Steele trying to get at Zab that started a ring riot spreading into the seats. That's the call Steele blew, not the Taylor fight where he had TKO or DQ loss option.

When boxing fans want to discredit good decisions and then turn around to uphold bad decisions, is it any wonder Boxing in the toilet of the average sport fan who'd rather follow a more legit sport than the criminal element of boxing where bad things happen as a matter or routine and nobody cares but a few emoting bipolar school grrls?

[joseph5620]

Whitaker refused to engage Chavez that's why get didn't get the decision. Taylor took the fight to Chavez, would have gotten the decision if the fight went to decision. Whitaker was a master stall and bore.

You either didn't watch the fight or you're lying. Whitaker beat Chavez inside and out."Refused to engage" is ridiculously inaccurate.

[Ivich]

Leave the clock completely out of it.

My argument is the championship should be decided with a fighter knocked out or on the judges cards. Not by a ref making a controversial judgment call to stop it.

But we can agree to disagree.

Reluctant as I am to disagree with you.Steele made the right call imo.He saw a fighter being punched without any let up and when he asked Taylor for a response he didnt get it.

Taylor was out of it ,and it only takes a second for a tragedy to occur. Fighters are often too brave for their own good and, if their corner doesn't rescue them, the referee has an obligation to do so.

The ref isnt a time keeper his paramount priority is the safety of the two fighters,and Steele fulfilled that responsibility imo.
Just my opinion,I'm fully aware how polarizing Steeles action was in this fight.
Like your posts.

[Willie Pep 229]

You either didn't watch the fight or you're lying. Whitaker beat Chavez inside and out."Refused to engage" is ridiculously inaccurate.

"Lying." --> that accusation makes no sense. Do you mean I am deliberately trolling?

I'm not. Pee Wee was a stall fighter; as I said above his only success was he did what no one up to that point had done, he stopped Chavez's attack. He never countered with his own assualt.

As with so many stall fighters he was content to let HBO's paid stooges to anounce he won. But they didn't this time. For once he didn't get away with the stall.

The best part of the night was Bobby Czyz refusing to show Whitaker respect. It was not an accident thst he kept calling him Pee Wee. Merchant tried to correct Czyz a few times until he finally realized a real fighter like Czyz has no respect for stall fighters like Whitaker.