When should a fight be stopped US vs European interpretation

[Degsy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the general consensus (from the UK side) is that fights are normally stopped earlier in Europe - American refs seem to give a little more time for fighters to get that one punch in. The following classic heavyweight fight between Shavers and Tiger Williams would have been stopped in Europe (and possibly now even in the US) in favour of Williams, but for those of you that haven't seen it sorry for the obvious spoiler!! You have to bear in mind that Shavers was one of the ALL TIME biggest hitters in the heavyweights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRr3sHbANRI

The argument for stopping earlier, to avoid unecessary harm to the fighter, has to be balanced against the sheer courage of the participants and the fact that it is potentially their livelihood you are affecting. Life vs Livelihood - Gald I'm not a ref. The opposite end of the spectrum was the Manfredo stoppage, he would still have been humiliated, but he should have been given a little more time.

It will be especially interesting to see if our cousins accross the pond believe that the first point is still true of US referees

Enjoy the clip and please feel free to debate

[PeROxiDE]

Most fights that have ended in deaths or life threatening injuries occur in America, where the standard of refs is disgraceful. Whats rly funny tho, is when a fighter cannot continue, yet dumbass yanks scream early stoppage.

This gives me perfect oppurtunity to explain something to the yanks:
Fighting until you are unconscious is dangerous, and shouldnt be allowed to happen. When a fighter is done, hes done, thats it, fights over. Rather than moaning about an early stoppage, just utter a quiet word of thanks that you didnt watch the death or serious injuring of a boxer instead, I know which I'd rather watch.

[Calzaghe-Fan]

No disrespect but my thoughts on this is that as a pro boxer you accept the fact that the sport you compete in has a high risk of life threatening injuries. Every time a fighter gets through the ropes he is putting his life at risk. There isnt a "safe" way to get punched the head.

In order for the sport to be marketable knockouts need to occur.

[Degsy]

thanks for the first two comments - I couldn't have wished for two such opposing views so early in the post. No need for 'yank or limey bashing' though the argument is emotive enough anyway!! But I know how much stick you take from some of them Peroxide so as a fellow JC man I'll let you off

[steptwome]

We'll leave that to the discretion of the ref. Flash back: No one anticipated the fate Doo Koo Kim would encounter after the barrage of punches he received from Ray Mancini.
When a fighter reaches survival mode

{"The argument for stopping earlier, to avoid unecessary harm to the fighter, has to be balanced against the sheer courage of the participants and the fact that it is potentially their livelihood you are affecting. Life vs Livelihood"}

An act of sheer courage or instinctive reaction?

[Degsy]

We'll leave that to the discretion of the ref. Flash back: No one anticipated the fate Doo Koo Kim would encounter after the barrage of punches he received from Ray Mancini.
When a fighter reaches survival mode

{"The argument for stopping earlier, to avoid unecessary harm to the fighter, has to be balanced against the sheer courage of the participants and the fact that it is potentially their livelihood you are affecting. Life vs Livelihood"}

An act of sheer courage or instinctive reaction?

True my friend, that's why I wouldn't want the job - you can't foresee the consequences but the ref and the other fighter have to live with them. What's your personal take on the Shavers fight? Would it have been stopped today both sides of the pond? I think it would

[steptwome]

True my friend, that's why I wouldn't want the job - you can't foresee the consequences but the ref and the other fighter have to live with them. What's your personal take on the Shavers fight? Would it have been stopped today both sides of the pond? I think it would

I agree with you 100%. It would have been stopped