Questions about Chavez-Taylor I.

[Anthony342]

I didn't ignore Steele, I blamed him as well but still, when a ref asks if you're okay and you want to continue to fight, you're supposed to say yes, not look away. That can't be overlooked either. No matter what the ref does, the fighter is still supposed to respond. So I will say that yeah, Steele is at fault, but so is Taylor. Plus Steele also stopped Tyson-Ruddock 1 a little early, but at least that fight probably would've ended in a TKO anyway and called a lot of knockdowns slips in an early Pacquiao fight in the Philippines. So Steele's been good, but has also made some horrible calls there in the ring. No way I'd ever want Steele as a ref if I was a boxer.

[Boxing Bob]

Greynot, going into the 12th you saw the fight as a one sided fight for Chavez? To have it any less than 7-4 for Taylor is criminal!

Keep in mind Steeles first job is the safety of the fighters in the ring. If he did notice the 10 second warning lights while looking over Taylor, how in the hell is he supposed to know if there is 9 seconds left or 2? In the condition Taylor was in, to waive Chavez in with 9seconds on the clock would have been inhumane. I know that's not how it went down, but how would Steele have known.

mrjoe. the Don King conspiracy angle is HILARIOUS. Totally unfounded but funny just the same

[Anthony342]

You know, you guys can say what you want to try to justify Steele's decision to stop the fight there all you want. It will still not change my mind. Taylor earned the right to continue fighting and he was robbed of a split decision victory by the referee. That's what I think and that's what I'll always think about this fight.

[Boxing Bob]

Anthony342, you think it would have been acceptable for Steele to waive Chavez in with Taylor in that condition? If he would have, right now you would be posting on how the tragedy should have been avoided

[Anthony342]

No I wouldn't be, because as soon as he said fight, the bell would've rung and the fight would be over. If I think a fight should be stopped, I'll say so, like The Thrilla in Manila, that was a good stoppage. This wasn't. If Taylor would've responded, Steele might have even let it continue, but he was looking away at his corner. There's no way a punch could have landed before the bell rang. At best, Chavez would've landed one punch after the bell or right at the bell, but not before, not with 3 seconds left. That's my opinion, that fight shouldn't have been stopped.

So to answer your question, yes, that's what I'm saying.

[Boxing Bob]

Anthony342, so in essense what you're saying is that it would have been OK with you if Chavez landed one more punch on Taylor. Not me and obviously not Richard Steele and he got to make that decision!

[The Noose]

I didn't ignore Steele, I blamed him as well but still, when a ref asks if you're okay and you want to continue to fight, you're supposed to say yes, not look away. That can't be overlooked either. No matter what the ref does, the fighter is still supposed to respond. So I will say that yeah, Steele is at fault, but so is Taylor. Plus Steele also stopped Tyson-Ruddock 1 a little early, but at least that fight probably would've ended in a TKO anyway and called a lot of knockdowns slips in an early Pacquiao fight in the Philippines. So Steele's been good, but has also made some horrible calls there in the ring. No way I'd ever want Steele as a ref if I was a boxer.

Unless you were being badly beaten. Taylor was never the same after the beating Chavez gave him.
The ref shouldnt be ******** with the health and life of a fighter, hoping that Chavez wouldnt land another punch.

Great decision. No bias. Totally focused on the condition of the hurt fighter.

[Anthony342]

Anthony342, so in essense what you're saying is that it would have been OK with you if Chavez landed one more punch on Taylor. Not me and obviously not Richard Steele and he got to make that decision!

Yes it is. And Chavez most likely wouldn't have landed another punch is my point. Not with 2 or 3 seconds left in the round.

And in essence, what you're saying is that you're okay with Taylor being denied a split decision victory that he fought his heart out for and earned.

[The Noose]

Yes it is. And Chavez most likely wouldn't have landed another punch is my point. Not with 2 or 3 seconds left in the round.

And in essence, what you're saying is that you're okay with Taylor being denied a split decision victory that he fought his heart out for and earned.

Chavez fought his heart out also, and earned a tko victory.
If there was more time left on the clock, Steele letting Taylor continue when he didnt respond would have been wrong, because he wasnt fit to continue.

So the amount of time left is irrelevant. Taylor wasnt fit to continue. Thats the only thing that matters, because the ref is protecting the life of the hurt fighter.

To say Chavez 'most likely' woudlnt of landed another punch isnt good enough. One more solid right hand could of potentially done permanent damage. Its a gamble no ref should take.

[NearHypnos]

You're basically asking the ref to be biased and let Taylor win. He couldn't continue... Doesnt matter if there's a second left or a minute, that's the point of the ref and the time... You want to criticize a ref go complain about the cintron-martinez fight. Steele made the rght call... Didnt make it with his heart. It sucks but had he let him go we'd be talking about how Steele robbed Chavez of a ko because there wasn't a lot of time left.