Above the pa****t

[Funky_Monk]

I'll probably be in the minority here.... but I don't have an issue with Howard Fosters stoppage. It may have been on the premature side but I think and indeed hope that it will ultimately be in George's favor.

Foster may or may not stand by his decision but I for one applaud him. I think there were other elements in the fight he struggled with but anyone who has ever refereed at any level of any sport will know it's the rub of the green at times.
Making split second decisions is never easy nor is it to put yourself in that position. It's far easier to judge from a far, easier still when you aren't qualified to do so.

So now we have had some time to think what is it that you think?

[taansend]

I'll probably be in the minority here.... but I don't have an issue with Howard Fosters stoppage. It may have been on the premature side but I think and indeed hope that it will ultimately be in George's favor.

Foster may or may not stand by his decision but I for one applaud him. I think there were other elements in the fight he struggled with but anyone who has ever refereed at any level of any sport will know it's the rub of the green at times.
Making split second decisions is never easy nor is it to put yourself in that position. It's far easier to judge from a far, easier still when you aren't qualified to do so.

So now we have had some time to think what is it that you think?

I agree with your comments about split second decision making etc but in a high profile world title fight we need the best referees & Fosters performance on Saturday was far from that.

The more I see of the 'stoppage' the worse (& more unfair) it gets.

Groves buzzed Froch 20 seconds before the fight & threw a little combo SECONDS before the 'stoppage'.

Terrible stoppage & an injustice to Groves & the fans.

[Funky_Monk]

Experience is built on both good and bad performances. I don't think dropping some one for making an unpopular or possibly bad decision is the answer. I think generally we are always far harsher on the referees of sport than those partaking.
I'm sure Foster will get asked about it lots in the coming weeks and will give it more thought. Referees are usually their own biggest critics in my experience.
In fairness he was alot closer than we were he possibly saw something we didn't.
Does anyone know what sort of review process the go through post fight?
I know how it works for football and rugby but not boxing...

[PrinceNaz88]

I think he did Groves a favour.

If he hadn't of stepped in then Groves would have been flat on his back and KO'd with no controversy.

But the way it has happened has made Groves a bigger hero.


However, I still believe it was a very poor stoppage given the way the fight went. I don't want to see any fighters hurt but Groves' did not take sustained punishment to be stopped at that point. Even though I believe the ending was pretty close.

[taansend]

First off, I want to say what a pleasure it is to talk to people with different views to mine who don't have to resort to petty insults (of either the boxers or the posters).

I disagree with you both.

My feeling (after watching the fight again) is that Froch was trying to do anything to win & rough Groves up - just like an old pro should - but Groves was handling it well and was in control.

I think that peoples pre conceived ideas about the fight have clouded their judgement. I don't mean this as an insult or anything but watch the 9th again. Groves had the better of it but the second Froch did well the ref jumped in.

Froch MIGHT have won but we were all cheated of a great ending by a ref who may have made his mind up beforehand.

This fight should not have had a UK ref. This is not a slight against UK refs - just that the bout was huge there & nothing much elsewhere. I think Fosters judgement was clouded & the stoppage backs that up, in my opinion.

[Funky_Monk]

Yeah I agree when I watched it for the third time Froch kinda body checks him first to back him in to the ropes.
I personally don't think the ref had a great night generally but I'm not going to blame him. 99% of the time people act honestly. I agree the pressure and pre conceived ideas may pay a part.
I have heard others say why didn't he give Groves a standing 8 count. Was this even possible for this fight do we know?
Which highlights another grey area different fights have different rules. Is that governing body or region based or maybe even both...?

[Funky_Monk]

I also think referees and judges should not be involved with social media pre fight.
This shows a massive naivety and lack of professionalism. Reading the quote that was liked I don't think its corrupt just very poor judgement

[taansend]

I have heard others say why didn't he give Groves a standing 8 count. Was this even possible for this fight do we know?
Which highlights another grey area different fights have different rules. Is that governing body or region based or maybe even both...?

I don't think so but am not 100% sure but I don't even think he needed a standing 8. I don't feel he was in any great trouble & was in control. I felt (and still feel) he was weathering the storm quite well.

[PrinceNaz88]

Sorry taansend but I think he was gone. At the end of the 8th he looked exhausted going back to his corner and then recovered for the first minute of the 9th. But then Froch caught up with him and started landing clean for the first time in the fight. Groves was slumped over and looked in a bad way.

I did not see Froch slowing down at all and only getting stronger for the remaining 3 and 1/2 rounds.

It's all if's and but's, we will never know for certain. Get the rematch on and get it sorted without the controversy.