This **** drives me crazy. Today, some frightened ref called a halt to the Joyce-Takam fight with Takam on his feet, not even close to hitting the canvas or really wobbled badly. At minimum the ref should have waited until at least one knockdown had occurred, and then evaluated. Personally, I don't think fights should be ordinarily stopped unless someone is on the canvas unable to get up. Let fights be decided in the ring by the fighters, not by squeamish refs who don't seem to understand the purpose of the fight game. These quicky stoppages cheat the fighters of their opportunity to potentially survive and come back, and it cheats the fans of the entertainment they paid to see!!!
Takam took way too many unanswered shots at the end. Could he have taken a few more? Sure but to what end exactly? The fight was over and Joyce was raining shots on his temples. He might not collapse today but Jesus he does need to be able to function when he retires. The same people who say “let it continue” will also say “the ref should have stopped it” when Takam falls into a coma in his corner, or develops full on punch-drunk syndrome days later. Personally I think it was a fair stoppage and we don’t need any more dead or handicapped fighters. Maxim Dadashev. Died 2019 R.I.P Patrick Day 2019 R.I.P Scott Westgarth 2018 R.I.P. I could go on but I won’t. If we followed the idea of “Let fights be decided in the ring by the fighters” deaths in boxing would go up dramatically because these guys are warriors, most of which do not have the word quit in them.
First of all, you will NEVER hear me saying "the ref should have stopped it" because, generally speaking, I don't believe refs should stop fights at all unless absolutely necessary. This is exactly the philosophy that was dominant in boxing up through about the 1970s or so. Not any more. And it's gotten progressively worse since that time, culminating in the kind of absurd early endings you see today. I should add that I have never seen ANY evidence that shows somehow that death or dementia pugilistica or any other boxing related health outcome are less common due to these premature stoppages, or the silly and unnecessary reduction of fight length from 15 to 12 rounds, or any other hysterical overreaction to the obvious risks of boxing - risks that all participants agree to, by the way. It's a myth. Boxing is dangerous, as are other contact sports such as football. So be it. If these refs - and the squeamish boxing fans that support them - have their way, there will be no more sport of boxing, at least in any meaningful sense where the action is truly decided by the participants, not by officials.
That's why I like Steve smoger. He lets fights end with a natural conclusion. Look at his job in the Cotto Margarito 2 fight! Impeccable. But the thing is with 15 rounders I think a guy named boom boom ray Mancini murdered another man between rounds 13- 15 so it's only academic that they stopped it. However a 13th round would help with getting rid of so many draws. Btw they should 90 seconds in between rounds for a one minute commercial if on national TV, or else just have the corner cams in there longer, whatever, just to allow more breathing as simple as it sounds. Of course I'm saying this during pac- Spence timing because I'm worried that Manny is gonna get gassed! Btw how many times did Errol Spence hit porter in the balls. I really respect porter I do. He is flippin solid. Definitely elite fighter.
I was an active boxing fan when the Mancini-Kim fight happened, and while you are correct that it contributed to the hysterical over-reaction that lead to the elimination of 15 round fights - or at least provided a convenient justification for it. More likely the more easy fit for a one hour TV telecast for a single fight was the driving factor. In any event, there is no evidence that suggests that ring deaths or injuries are lessened due to this or any other of the nonsensical changes that have been made to the sport over the last 50 years. I'm with you on Smoger though. Best ref in the biz when he was active. We could use more like him!!
spot on. i wonder how many people can watch the first gatti-ward now and not wince at gatti's complete inability to move his head? it's okay being outraged as a fan if you feel like you got robbed of entertainment, but who's going to prop up some of these guys when they deteriorate cognitively in later life?
Im betting Maxim Dadashevs family wished he got an early stoppage, maybe hed still be here. I have no issues with an early stoppage, if a guy is taking unanswered punches.
Is that really so bad? Why is that the end of the argument? Do you know how many people die base jumping every year? But they keep doing it because the people who base jump think that their game is worth the risk. Boxing is a dangerous game. I would be okay with a few more deaths if that made it a better sport.
I work as an occupational psychologist and know it would take a specialized team. Speech therapists, cognitive repair sessions with a specialist and medication. It’s not pretty.
Yes, I am willing to accept a more dangerous more entertaining sport. I think people who don't accept the risks are pussies. Boxing isn't even as dangerous as Rodeo, rock climbing, or motorsports. Sack up, Nancies!
Yep, same as I say about covid. It's a personal choice to take risks with one's health and life in a free society. Only cowards think that safety is the most important thing.