Chavez / Taylor was a Good Call

[Rockin']

It was a great fight. The hype before hand was great and the pre fight anticipation was great, but it could never surpass what we witnessed that night in the ring. Chavez, the living legend of Mexico and a greatly talented gold medalist in Taylor put on the most memorable display for 35 minutes and 50 seconds of the 12 round title bout. Things had turned ugly as Taylor dropped to the canvas. Referee Richard Steele began his count and amazingly Taylor was able to make it to his feet. Taylor stood infront of Steele battered and worn. The swelling hadnt siesied around his eyes and fresh blood dripped from his nose and mouth as it hung open, Taylors eyes seemingly looking around him, but could he even see or better yet comprehend. That is the question and Steele decided that Taylor should have no more. Forget about the time remaining in the round and forget about the magnitude of the bout. Plain and simple Steele had a man standing unsteadily in front of him that was a beaten man. Maybe not beaten as in his resolve of determination but physically beaten. Steele waved his arms and then wrapped his arms around Taylor, Taylor was no out of harms way.

Taylor would never again be the same after that magical night in Vegas. His skill had been beaten from him that ever so slight bit, but thats all it takes. In those 10 remaining seconds, had Steele allowed him to continue, Taylor could have been severly injured. Or atleast injured more than he already was. I believe that Steele may have saved Taylor or saved a part of him. After wars like those fighters are frequently changed, even the winners might never again show that spark that lifted them above. Steele being as experienced and seasoned as his is knows this. He may have spoiled the fans blood thirst by stopping Taylor from possibly again crumbling to the canvas in a bloody mess under Chavez' pinpointed and brutal attacks, and that a good thing...............Rockin'

[Dynamite Kid]

It was a great fight. The hype before hand was great and the pre fight anticipation was great, but it could never surpass what we witnessed that night in the ring. Chavez, the living legend of Mexico and a greatly talented gold medalist in Taylor put on the most memorable display for 35 minutes and 50 seconds of the 12 round title bout. Things had turned ugly as Taylor dropped to the canvas. Referee Richard Steele began his count and amazingly Taylor was able to make it to his feet. Taylor stood infront of Steele battered and worn. The swelling hadnt siesied around his eyes and fresh blood dripped from his nose and mouth as it hung open, Taylors eyes seemingly looking around him, but could he even see or better yet comprehend. That is the question and Steele decided that Taylor should have no more. Forget about the time remaining in the round and forget about the magnitude of the bout. Plain and simple Steele had a man standing unsteadily in front of him that was a beaten man. Maybe not beaten as in his resolve of determination but physically beaten. Steele waved his arms and then wrapped his arms around Taylor, Taylor was no out of harms way.

Taylor would never again be the same after that magical night in Vegas. His skill had been beaten from him that ever so slight bit, but thats all it takes. In those 10 remaining seconds, had Steele allowed him to continue, Taylor could have been severly injured. Or atleast injured more than he already was. I believe that Steele may have saved Taylor or saved a part of him. After wars like those fighters are frequently changed, even the winners might never again show that spark that lifted them above. Steele being as experienced and seasoned as his is knows this. He may have spoiled the fans blood thirst by stopping Taylor from possibly again crumbling to the canvas in a bloody mess under Chavez' pinpointed and brutal attacks, and that a good thing...............Rockin'

dont overdramatise it Meldrick Taylor was not in that bad a shape when he got up and it was'nt a heavy knockdown IMO either ,Lou Duva was why he did'nt respond straight away

there is no excuse for Steele stopping this fight it was a bad error in Judgement i aint questioning Steeles integrity but i do question his decision making at the time it was a terrible stoppage

[ElGranLuchador]

great thread! i completely agree

[THe TRiNiTY]

No. It was a bad call. But, at the same time, I think Chavez did more damage. So, in some strange way I look at it like a draw.

[Rockin']

dont overdramatise it Meldrick Taylor was not in that bad a shape when he got up and it was'nt a heavy knockdown IMO either ,Lou Duva was why he did'nt respond straight away

there is no excuse for Steele stopping this fight it was a bad error in Judgement i aint questioning Steeles integrity but i do question his decision making at the time it was a terrible stoppage

Taylor was not in bad shape? For a murder movie he didnt look that bad but for a man who had just warred for 11.9 rounds with Chavez looked like ****.

For the most part nobody on here knows what its like to be beaten on by a pro fighter with those little gloves. I never experienced it for 12 rounds straight nor did I experience it by a guy with heavy hands like chavez, but let me tell you that it friggin' rings, stings and just plain hurts. Ofcourse your a fighter so you fight through it and thats why we have refs. Because they are their to keep it safe. Steele did that, Taylor was a beaten fighter...........Rockin'

[Motofan]

Bull**** stoppage. Only a big Chavez fan would think otherwise. How did he get his skill beaten from him by Chavez when he was clearly ahead in the fight? Chavez sure as **** didnt beat him.

[Sin City]

it doesn't matter if it's 10 seconds into round one or ten seconds until the final bell.. if a fighter is hurt and can't continue the fight is stopped. you're not just gonna give a fighter the win because there was a couple seconds left.. besides Chavez was the winner.. If he would have been the clear loser then he would have been the one who was permanently damaged and pissing blood after but he wasn't.


I don't like Chavez but I'm not about to try to take that great win away from him.

[Sin City]

Bull**** stoppage. Only a big Chavez fan would think otherwise. How did he get his skill beaten from him by Chavez when he was clearly ahead in the fight? Chavez sure as **** didnt beat him.

I hate Chavez and agree with the decision sorry...

[Silencers]

I actually though the stoppage was OK as well, Steele's job was to protect the fighters health, he probably didn't hear the ten second warning because of how loud the crowd was when Chavez knocked him down and in the heat of the moment, I don't blame him for not looking over Taylor's shoulder to look at the flashing red light.

Even though Taylor was winning the fight, he took a lot of punishment in the fight and I felt very sorry for him when Steele stopped the fight but Steele did his job, he asked Taylor if he was OK twice and Taylor didn't answer because he was looking at his corner because Duva jumped up to the apron.

I blame Duva more than anyone for the stoppage because if I were the referee I would have stopped the fight as well.

Also, Duva's advice before the round was bad, he told Taylor to fight Chavez when Taylor was comfortably ahead, if he had just told Taylor to box and move, the outcome would have been different.

[the330ballers]

dont overdramatise it Meldrick Taylor was not in that bad a shape when he got up and it was'nt a heavy knockdown IMO either ,Lou Duva was why he did'nt respond straight away

there is no excuse for Steele stopping this fight it was a bad error in Judgement i aint questioning Steeles integrity but i do question his decision making at the time it was a terrible stoppage

that was a huge KD and taylor was out on his feet.

i still wish steele let taylor have this victory.