Premature Stoppage!!!!

[DLT]

You guys are insane. He was damn near out cold.

Thats true on the ground but he stopped it before Taylor even went down and he was even thinking about jumping in a while before that. From that standpoint I think it was premature.

[shawn_]

He stopped because Taylor was sitting on the ropes with his hands down slumped over, getting battered, He never would have hit the canvas, Kelly would have pounded him through the ropes. Disobley Hurtado style.

That stoppage was PERFECT. Smoger once again secured his place as the #1 ref in the sport.

[iron mike tyson]

i think we should be talking about the berto estrada stoppage or the lack of one after the first knockdown in round 11 estrada was gone and the ref let him continue that was a disgrace

[DLT]

He stopped because Taylor was sitting on the ropes with his hands down slumped over, getting battered, He never would have hit the canvas, Kelly would have pounded him through the ropes. Disobley Hurtado style.

That stoppage was PERFECT. Smoger once again secured his place as the #1 ref in the sport.

Well then he couldve stepped in and just called it a knockdown because the ropes were holding Taylor up or he couldve just given him a standing 8 count. I dont think you do that to a champ like Taylor with a resume like his and already had his own knock down in the fight. Again, its moot since he was out cold on the ground but if he wasnt out cold when he hit the ground then this probally would be a big controversy right now because Smoger had already stopped it

[dalliance13]

If the fight had been stopped in round 2 I would have been outraged. Kelly was hurt bad but was at least in position to clinch or defend himself.

It actually would have been better for Taylor to have hit the canvas than it was to lean against the ropes when he was hurt. Take the 8 count and try to go on from there. But he was trapped standing in the corner and seemed to be out on his feet. The ref had no choice.

[MickyHatton]

As a complete neutral I have to say that the fight was stopped correctly and fairly.

Taylor was badly hurt before that final left hook went in and after that he was done I'm afraid.

In the unlikely event of him making a count he would have been in no position to defend himself safely therefore is was a just and excellent stoppage by the referee.

[chito]

i don't think it was premature.

[Azteca]

Pavlik is a huge star now. White. Talented. Big puncher. This guy is exciting as they come. And a great, humble champion.

It makes me feel good inside knowing Pavlik will be the champ for years to come.

[PunchDrunk]

Perfect stoppage. Taylor never made any attempt to get up, at all because he was out cold for at least a 15 count.

Whoever talked about a "standing 8 count," Taylor went to the floor?? And I'm assuming there was a "no standing 8 count" rule in effect, as there usually is in world title fights? Therefore getting caught on the ropes with no way of falling over is the most dangerous place to be. Tough **** for Taylor, but he did end up going down when Smoger stepped between them, and wasn't making ANY attempt at getting up. Perfect stoppage.

[FUMIN 88]

theres no way it was premature the ref steped in at the right time