Compare the Stoppage in Knyba-Kabayel Fight, to The Knockdown in Knyba-Ruiz

Kynba-Kabayel was ridiculous. Clearly a case of protecting a fighter.

 

They tried to rob Knyba as well.

 

Definitely. I thought Ruiz should have been stopped. He looked in terrible shape. I really thought the ref was going to stop it.

 

Not this ref .... and not two out of the three judges ....

 

What I don't get was the ref stepping in to stop Knyba from punching just as Ruiz was getting ready to go down. There wasn't a technical knockdown with the ropes holding Ruiz up and there is no standing eight count.

Based on the footage, Ruiz being stopped would have totally been justified but I think he was given a chance to get up and got to his corner and survived with dignity. I am ok with the fight not being stopped.

I do not like the Knyba stoppage. Sure Damian dipped his head after taking a right hand and staggered briefly before recovering but it was way too early to stop it. Kabayel was having a big rally and landed several hard overhand rights largely unanswered but its boxing. A fighter should have the chance to recover and continue, especially early in a fight. If Knyba got hit by those blows and stumbled and took unanswered blows in round nine or ten I think it would sit better but it was only the third round.

 

He had no right to get a 20 count but he also had no business pulling himself up from the heap on the canvas that battering left him as. He proved he was still capable of fighting and the ref no doubt is aware Ruiz is a tough **** as well as him being the A side matchroom new signing. There could have been no complaints if he waved it off, it's difficult to think of seeing a fighter hurt worse than that and fight on to see the final bell. That's literally the only thing of note Andy did for the entire fight so it wasn't exactly a comeback for the ages,

 

The ref was bought and paid for in the Ruiz fight. When he stopped the action, it should have been a stoppage. Then he gave Ruiz so much time to recover. Even helped him back to his corner. What kind of ref does that?