Why wasn't this grounds for DQ (like RJJ against Montell Griffin the first time) or AT LEAST a warning from the ref (or comments by the announcers)? seemed pretty blatant. no harm no foul, or what?
I saw that too - the ref didn't take notice of it, and neither did the commentators. And Bika threw TWO punches while Codrington was on the canvas, too. Personally, I think he should have received a warning, and perhaps a point deduction. As it could have been unintentional - i.e. in the heat of the moment - the ref shouldn't have DQd the guy, particularly since all that money was riding on it.
agreed about DQ being too far, but it WAS a blatant cheap shot (Codrington was on his ass at that point, not his knee) and COULD have been a devastating shot. seemed strange that the ref and more surprisingly commentators didnt mention it whatsoever. didnt really have an effect on the fight, but i was just wondering.
Things like this require competent referees to catch. Boxers deserve to fight without fouls or dirtiness. :-(
Unforunately, hitting guys when they're down happens very often, and rarely does the ref do anything unless the guy makes an acting job out of it. Guys will always bend the rules and all, but the refs should at least penalize guys for blatantly hitting guys who are on the canvas. It happens so frequently and rarely is it punished.
Yeah, like you, I wasn't so much surprised that the ref missed it, or that Bika did it in the first place, but rather than the commentators didn't say **** - particularly professional grandstander Teddy Atlas who never misses an opportunity to get on his high horse and criticize officials. Hell, do people remember that time he practically went in the ring yelling to a ref to stop a fight?? And here, he says nothing. It's curious, to say the least.:yep
Atlas sucks, end of story. I find it funny how some refs (like the Mercantes) make a big deal out of fighters talking trash but sometimes do absolutely nothing about blatant fouling.
Yeah, Atlas sucks - but maybe it's something more than that. I'm wondering if he kept his mouth shut because ESPN had so much MONEY invested in this Contender finale. I'd bet cash money if it was some undercard fight on FNF, he'd be bitching about the ref ALL fight long!! :nod
They didn't do or say anything because they were expecting Bika to foul but, for the sake of the show, they were always going to not make a scene. In other words, they were self-censoring themselves subconsciously, having decided not to make a fuss when Bika fouled...my guess anyway.
Rabbit punching is even more flagrant and dangerous, and still goes on undetected most of the time. :barf Just look at Sam Peters entire career thus far, only in his last fight are the refs catching on.
I know, I hate that. Rabbit-punching is so dangerous and refs often don't do much about it. Of course, maybe you can do an acting job a la Luis Santana and win a title and a nice payday that way.
