Taylor-Chavez Debacle: Whose Fault?

[JAB5239]

He would've been counted out.

Taylor hits the canvas with 15-16 seconds left and the mandatory eight count ended with 7 seconds left.

He was up at 6, he should have stayed down as long as possible. Those few extra seconds could have made the difference. Another thing I noticed was he was using his left hand on the ropes to steady himself and was still teetering. I firmly believe this was a good stoppage.

[BigStereotype]

That, at least to my train of thought, is even more proof the stoppage was his own fault. Had he not been in such a rush and took the time to get his bearings he probably would have been saved by the bell. I don't see how it can be argued its anyone else's fault. I do believe he was distracted somewhat by Duva, but if he had been thinking correctly that probably wouldn't have been the case. No matter what though Mel was a beaten fighter. Lets say he did get the win, I've never seen the winner of a fight in so much worse a condition than the loser. Steele made the right call.

I absolutely agree. He was in such a rush because he had his face half caved in by the one and only Julio Cesar Chavez. He was not even close to mentally or physically fit to continue and Steele saw that. He was stabilizing himself with the ropes, his eyes were all over the place and he could barely stand. Lou Duva went "absolutely berserk" but Taylor was out of it before then.

[r.burgundy]

I disagree Ron. The blame lies strictly with Taylor in my opinion. Duva certainly didn't help any, but it was Meldrick's responsibility to be able and respond in a way that conveyed he was ok. He wasn't ok and was distracted, leaving Steele with one choice, the only fair choice, and that was to waive the fight over. Time has nothing to do with stepping in when a round ends, position does. Whether there was 2 seconds left or 2 rounds, Taylor was a beaten fighter. Steele absolutely made the right decision in my opinion.

at the 6 second mark he looks steele right in his eyes and acknowledges he is ok.steele counts again and taylor looks to his left then steele waves it off.if it was any other ref id give him the benefit of the doubt,but steele is just a piss poor ref.taylor was more exhausted than anything.just think if taylor was reffin fights like pavlik/taylor 1 or corrales/castillo.those fights probaly wouldve had some different endings

[JAB5239]

at the 6 second mark he looks steele right in his eyes and acknowledges he is ok.steele counts again and taylor looks to his left then steele waves it off.if it was any other ref id give him the benefit of the doubt,but steele is just a piss poor ref.taylor was more exhausted than anything.just think if taylor was reffin fights like pavlik/taylor 1 or corrales/castillo.those fights probaly wouldve had some different endings

At the 7 second mark he is holding on to the top rope and teetering. And no where did I see him acknowledge to Steele that he was ok. Just looking at a ref isn't enough to let a fight continue. "Dr. Flip Homansky, who examined Taylor after the fight, said, "Meldrick suffered a facial fracture, he was urinating pure blood, his face was grotesquely swollen...this was a kid who was truly beaten up to the face, the body, and the brain." This was a beaten fighter ended up having an extended stay in the hospital while Chavez went out partying. Let me ask you a question Ron, if there was say a minute left in the fight do you think it would have been the right move by letting the fight continue?

[r.burgundy]

At the 7 second mark he is holding on to the top rope and teetering. And no where did I see him acknowledge to Steele that he was ok. Just looking at a ref isn't enough to let a fight continue. "Dr. Flip Homansky, who examined Taylor after the fight, said, "Meldrick suffered a facial fracture, he was urinating pure blood, his face was grotesquely swollen...this was a kid who was truly beaten up to the face, the body, and the brain." This was a beaten fighter ended up having an extended stay in the hospital while Chavez went out partying. Let me ask you a question Ron, if there was say a minute left in the fight do you think it would have been the right move by letting the fight continue?

then why let the fight get to the 2nd mark if it was such a 1 sided beating?why not stop it in the 10th?i didnt see steele check on taylors health not once during the fight.taylors reaction after the stoppage shows he was aware of everything

[gatagata]

everybody was a little at fault. Steele for not noticing the flashing red light, Duva told him he needs to fight which was dumb as ****, while Taylor didn't respond to the ref.

[BigStereotype]

then why let the fight get to the 2nd mark if it was such a 1 sided beating?why not stop it in the 10th?i didnt see steele check on taylors health not once during the fight.taylors reaction after the stoppage shows he was aware of everything

He was not aware of everything. He could barely stand! He managed to bumble through his interview, but Chavez was a few punches away from killing him.

[mickey malone]

I think it's a justifiable stoppage. If there had been a minute left, nobody would have a problem with that. Taylor was out on his feet and the way Chavez was pummeling him in that last round, he could have been killed. I don't think the time factors into whether a fighter should be stopped. He was not able to continue. That being said, if he had just stayed down, he would have been saved by the bell.

Spot ****!... Anyone remember Ingo Johansson being announced the winner against Brian London while he was still unconscious?

Down to Taylor i'm afraid - Why listen to a gob****e bum like Duva?.. Taylor must have known he was well ahead!

[JAB5239]

then why let the fight get to the 2nd mark if it was such a 1 sided beating?why not stop it in the 10th?i didnt see steele check on taylors health not once during the fight.taylors reaction after the stoppage shows he was aware of everything

Come on now Ron I never said it was one sided. But the fact remains that Taylor took the much heavier punishment and paid the heavier toll. Steele was in that ring to hear every thudding blow and see Mel's reactions to them up close.

Taylor's reaction after the stoppage means nothing. Its how he reacts after the knockdown. And after the KD he was looking into space, teetering against the ropes and looked like a beaten fighter.

Now you didn't answer my question so here's another...had that KD happened in the middle of the ring instead of the corner where Mel could use the rope and try and balance, do you think this would have been a good stoppage. If not why?

[r.burgundy]

Come on now Ron I never said it was one sided. But the fact remains that Taylor took the much heavier punishment and paid the heavier toll. Steele was in that ring to hear every thudding blow and see Mel's reactions to them up close.

Taylor's reaction after the stoppage means nothing. Its how he reacts after the knockdown. And after the KD he was looking into space, teetering against the ropes and looked like a beaten fighter.

Now you didn't answer my question so here's another...had that KD happened in the middle of the ring instead of the corner where Mel could use the rope and try and balance, do you think this would have been a good stoppage. If not why?

taylor definitely took the heavier punishment.did you ever see the legendary nights on this fight?made me sick listning to steele.

after the k.d he is standing.alil disoreintated but looks at steele and shakes his head and he turns to duva which shows he is alert.its not like jones/tarver.jones made it up,but fell 1/2 across the ring.

i wouldve had a problem with the stoppage because taylor took alot of punishment to get to that point.had it been stopped in the 10th or 11th i wouldnt complain.either way its a poor stoppage.steele couldve let it continue and stayed right on top of the action.if he sees taylor take 1 more hard shot,then stop it.but mel worked to hard to have it taken away like that.