CRAP stoppage...my other thoughts are...

I think the stoppage was a little early, but no major complaints from me really.

I have seen much worse

 

Fair enough. I just tend to feel with Khan that a quick flurry and referee intervention is often the most likely outcome with his wins as he doesn't seem to possess one KO power and his opponents tend to not be durable enough to go the distance for it to result in a points decision.

 

The Earl stoppage was an excellent piece of refereeing, good point.

Maccarinelli was a tough one, it isn't good to see world title fights stopped very early on, especially as Enzo had made the count, but one can't help but think that had he just gone to the canvas instead of holding the ropes, the stoppage wouldn't have occured at that point anyway.

I think if a guy is still defending himself and not looking hurt, the referee has no reason to jump in - but Gomez was soaking up a few, and with Amir's hand speed being as it is, the referee could easily feel inclined. Perhaps that was also the reason for Manfredo being stopped by Terry O'Connor in the Calzaghe fight :think

 

I'm undecided about Khans punching power.

It does seem to have improved and he is throwing a greater variety of punches but I also tend to agree with your opening post where you mentioned Khan didn't have enough power. Think he could do with acquiring more of a dig and putting more power on the end of those fast flurry of punches he throws.

Gomez commented after the fight that Khan had unbelievable speed and accuracy but no power....

 

Khan has cumulative power, rather than concussive - similar to Ricky Hatton.

Trouble is, when Hatton was fighting a similar standard of opponent to Khan he was either blowing them away or wearing them down before stopping them.

 

It was a bad stoppage that ruined my impression of the fight. I think it matters that this was Gomez's last big chance, and that he'd given it to Khan so much that he'd had him down and hurt. He wasn't likely to win, but the same was true from the moment the fight was touted. The whole thing was of course planned as the Khan KO Show, and for as long as there are heavy favourites in boxing, that's no reason not to let the man fight. In hurting and flooring Khan, and recovering pretty well from being knocked down himself, Gomez was going beyond expectations. He showed that he had a better (albeit still slim) chance of winning than anyone had thought prior to the fight!

He was in a perfectly fit position to continue, and it was stopped when they found an opportunity to end it, after the scare of Khan getting knocked down. The Khan KO Show must go on!

 

The stoppage was made on what proceeded the highlight clip. The clip of Gomez on the ropes with Khan missing punches was simply the end. I think it is a questionable stoppage too but it's not horrendous. I believe the moments prior to the stoppage had the ref just looking for a reason. If a fighter continues to shut up shop then the ref will step in. ESPECIALLY against a fighter like Khan who fires in fast bursts that make it look like Gomez could get hurt. Gomez did fire off one punch but it was weak and deflected/missed so that didn't buy him more time.