Referees Asking "Do You Want To Continue" Should Be Banned

[paulf]

Seriously, it's time for the athletic commissions to retrain these refs.

Everyone involved in boxing knows that a boxing saying "no" to being asked if you want to continue at the high level is career suicide. Guys that are hurt and not fit to continue are still going to say "yes" in most cases and put themselves at risk, or say "no" and be ridiculed for the rest of their lives over it.

We've seen it plenty. A guy is hurt and the fight should obviously be stopped, but the ref is there asking "Do you want to fight? Do you want to continue?" and the guy just stares blankly, because he doesnt want to say no. The ref, usually with no verbal communication with the fighter, signals for action to resume and the guy gets KTFO with shots he shouldn't have ever taken.

What really rubbed me the wrong way last night is that Victor got hit with the perfect shot and there would have been no questions if he had stayed down from it. But he got up, fought back, went out guns blazing. When he got dropped the second time he was obviously not recovered from the first and knew he had nothing left. Only he knows if he had anything left at that point, **** what everyone else says. He stayed down and intentionally got up too late, the ref counted to ten before Victor was on his feet and was OBLIGATED TO WAVE IT OFF. Fight was over. Instead, he forced Victor to either continue after being counted out or verbally ask for the fight to be stopped.

That is bullshit and no a position any fighter should be put in.

Look, I can't stand Ortiz. But what happened last night (I'm sure the pizza box was a result of it) shouldn't ever happen. The refs need to be able to call a situation for what it is; if they cant tell if a fighter can continue or not without the fightertelling them they quit, they probably shouldn't be a referee.

[MDPopescu]

... The fighter is fully entitled to quit the fight for whatever reasons... The ref, as well, may ask the fighter whatever he wants to... And, according to rules, the ref may stop the fight at any moment without taking into account what the fighter says... There's no need for changes here.

[Eff Pandas]

I think the problem is more on fans than the commissions. Fans shouldn't be so critical of guys who are getting beat down & call it a night. This ain't a football or baseball game. And guys quit in football or baseball all the time on their own or with people on their teams advice & don't get crucified like boxers do & this is a much more damaging sport on a bad night then either of those sports or any other sports where people quit upon injury. The reality is boxing has many primitive thinker type fans who don't understand or don't care about the damage a fighter is taking & feel that every man should go out swinging.

[SplitSecond]

I don't mind. If the guy is too hurt the ref will usually stop it. the question is more to see how much fight and awareness the fighter still has in him, and actually, I've seen some refs let the fight go on after the fighter gave no answer which is wrong.

[Larry the boss]

Fight should have been stopped because Ortiz DID NOT beat the damn count

[Willy Wanker]

Ortiz was winning every round and even dropped Berto, I could see why the ref wanted to give him a chance. The ref did a good job last night. Ortiz should have just stayed down if he was too hurt, like against Collazo. Getting up showed that he could have continued, but had second thoughts.

I would have given most fighters the benefit of the doubt for not continuing, but Ortiz has quit more than once before. Saying, "I'm too young and don't deserve to get beat up like this," after quitting against Maidana just tells you where his heart is. Also quit against Floyd and Lopez. He has the talent, just doesn't have that fighting spirit.

Berto has that fighting spirit, that's why he won last night.

[gee73]

The only reason why the referees ask the fighters is to get a reaction from them. Some fighters might be able to fight on, but are not clear in their head. Chances are high, that when you are not able to answer the question you are concussed and shouldn't continue. It's only done to ensure fighters safety, I don't think a referee asking a fighter expects them to say no.

[NEETzsche]

it's because fighters have this habit of deliberately waiting until the count of 10 and then suddenly jumping up as if they want to continue and acting as if the ref just screwed them. i like it when their bluff gets called

[R_Walken]

Disagree

A ref should ask and the fighter will give the answer through words,eye contact, Body language and base his decision based on those

I'm watching the fight now and Jack Reiss did a great job and gave him every opprotunity to continue.

[ИATAS]

100% disagree. Sometimes it's not clear if a fighter is good to go or not and in those instances "do you want to continue" is really the only way for the ref to know.

The alternative is what? Waiving it off so then the fighter can complain and be like "oh man that was a BS stoppage I wasn't even hurt I was about to kick his ass!" that we always see, or worse British refs that waive it off anytime someone hits the canvas.

This is boxing. Real men fight. It's not about feelings getting hurt it's a sport. If you quit yeah that can hurt a little but everyone gets second chances. Look at Ortiz, how many times has he quit and he still gets chances.

I love refs that give the benefit of the doubt to the fighters and can't stand the opposite.