Terrible stoppage in Stevens fight

Johnson was 2 or 3 punches away from going down but he might had survived the round

 

Well, if you look at Johnson right when the ref steps in and stops it, while he's holding him, it looked like it took Johnson 5 seconds to realize that the fight was even stopped. So I think it was a good stoppage.

 

Yeah. That ref should have waited maybe 2 seconds to see if he would move more upright or throw a punch back. I just think given that guys situation it probably wasn't the best thing to do... That fight was that kids ticket into some big money and he really earned it IMO. Ref probably was hired by "Main Event" Boxing promotions, who ran the event and Stevens is in their stable.

Really a shame though. That kid took a lot of punishment from a BIG puncher and was en route to a W...

 

Stoppage is hard to judge... you could definitely see where Johnson was out of it, and his brain had to reconnect. Thats very dangerous. But he was about to go down, and probably could have gotten back up.

I say rematch on HBO. That or mix it up and put Geale, Stevens, Macklin and Johnson on the same card and hold an HBO eliminator for a (or another) shot at GGG. That would be pretty fun to watch too.

 

Was johnson punching back. ?

 

No.

 

Stoppage was fine. If Johnson had been put down hard for the count a couple seconds later many of you would now be grandstanding about the ref not protecting the fighter.

How about this: Don't get smashed with a left hook from a left hooker in the last round of a fight you are up by 5 points in.

 

Hmm. Youtube is up. After rewatching, it does seem a bit quick. Pretty borderline.

I wont say that Stevens was saved, he was likely to finish the job. But it seems iffy enough that a rematch is warranted. Of course I might be biased, this was my favorite fight so far this year... and besides, my standard reply to any legit controversy is "rematch!".

 

A rematch solves everythingdeal:rasta

 

I just watched it on youtube, that was a classic BKO.

 

Johnson didn't even know the fight was stopped till 8 seconds later:deal

 

Stevens was firing with everything and Johnson was ****ing out of it, maybe a tad early, but Johnson was finished after that left hook.

 

He knew right away the ref was doing something, but it looked like he thought the ref was giving him a standing 8 count. After he realized the ref was waving it off, which was four seconds later, he became upset. It was obvious Johnson wasn't hurt and was defending himself as Stevens was hitting nothing but gloves.:deal

 

It was very early, but i understand the ref.

 

Stevens landed the initial bomb left hook, I beleive another left hook or right hook that sent him in to the ropes, and before the big flurry landed another devastating hook (haven't watched it since last night) and then he flurries to get the fight stopped or take him out.
Fight could have been let go for a little longer.. I'm pretty sure Johnson was gonna go down, but possibly recover, get up, and finish the fight on his feet. To say he wasn't hurt though??? Obviously he was, the ref grabbed him and he wasn't even looking at the ref for seconds (was dazed).

Early stoppage, but I agree with most people and can sort of see why.. Not only because they wanted Stevens to win.

Regardless I don't think this hurt Johnson's career really. Not sure if people will be lining up to fight him, but people will definitely pay to watch him fight. He just bullied Stevens for 10 1/2 rounds until a controversial stoppage. His stock is still raised.