Well there's a can of worms you just opened because the Chavez vs Taylor stoppage is 50/50 between people as to the right decision. So for you to say it's the worst you've seen is ridiculous. The question in that fight isn't even if Taylor was fit to continue, almost 100% of people would say he wasn't, but it's whether the referee should take time into account (imo, and within the rules time is irrelevant, if a fighter can't continue they can't continue), but that's for another day and another thread.
He was no more done than Froch was at any stage. Froch looked equally hurt, if not worse, multiple times in that fight but Ref did not stop Froch. We will never know what happened through a premature stoppage. it happens. lets have a rematch
Seriously rocked mid way through 9th, with a further 3 more rounds to go? Granted, we'll never know; but, I'm convinced Groves would soon be operating on borrowed time. This fight was shaping up to be a Jermaine Taylor 2.0 Still a poor stoppage though.
You don't know whether he would make it or not. We do know Groves schooled him for most of the fight and the stoppage was premature.
But Froch was still dangerous at every point in that fight and was getting stronger. Groves was the one who was fading and fading badly. Come on, Froch had a free shot when he had Groves on the ropes there, he was stumbling like a drunk right in to the ref's hands. So Froch could have landed a few more heavy shots, then the ref stops it. Probably what should have happened, but do you really and truly believe Groves was going to go another 3 rounds with Froch smelling blood? The man can finish fights when he knows you are hurt. Groves did amazingly well, but shot his load, he was done. Had nothing left, could not get his gloves up to defend himself, hardly in a position to kick on and go a brutal three rounds to the finish, against an animal nut job like Froch. That is the kind of scenario he loves. he would have steamrolled Groves.
I don't blame Froch at all. However, I feel sorry for Groves. Boxing needs a 3 judge panel that can over rule a referee if they think its not the case. OR, allow standing 8 counts like in the amateurs. This will decrease the probability of the referees panicking like this by facilitating a longer look and mitigating the impact on the fighter deemed to be out on his feet. Ok he loses a 10-8 round but not the whole fight. Before people start criticising this suggestion - please remember - in other sports like Rugby, tennis etc. they have implemented technology that fans thought might ruin the flow of a contest. In reality, the results of such changes were far greater than the disadvantages that came by implementing them.
Who's to say Groves wouldn't have stopped Froch later on?? He was buzzing Froch with nearly every shot he was landing, it would definitely have made an impact in those later rounds. The ref robbed us of a clear cut decision either way, Groves gave Froch all he could handle and more!
I think its quite clear to anyone with a functioning brain is that the fix was in. There is no other explanation for the cards otherwise and the fact that the ref is clearly using completely different criteria for how to stop a fight when Froch was far more hurt than Groves ever was.
