I hope Howard Foster isn't the referee for Usyk-Wardley

Glen Feldman

 

Early but not unjustified imo. He gave Parker more than enough time to show he could defend and his wits were still about him as you say, but what he was showing Foster was the wherewithal to keep something moving with his chin tucked and hands high. He was pretty badly rocked but about 10s prior to the stoppage, he stepped off the ropes with 1-2, thinking Wardley was done and then tried to clinch so he at least had enough function to do something about the situation.

I think what I dislike about the stoppage is that Parker was clearly much more hurt earlier in the round before Wardley punched himself out, and Foster clearly saw that and I thought, "Parker's got one more chance". That's fair enough in some ways .

But as with any stoppage we don't know what would've happened, and and Parker didn't seem to complain much in the moment.

 

That was one of the worst stoppages I have ever seen by any ref

May have just cost Parker his career

 

Terrible stoppage. At least let Parker go down. Wardley was gassed. Parker could have easily caught him. Another poor British ref who had no business refing this fight.

 

I don't agree on your Parker hyperbole but the key here is Wardley wasn't landing in the final flurry and he was getting loose and losing his own shape.

Against a durable world level fighter that was an absolute joke of a stoppage.

 

Foster couldn't possibly get Usyk-Wardley. But it is a frightening thought.

 

Fosters likability is probably on par with Starmer.


But at least Foster is consistent.....

 

As you said, Foster has been pulling this **** for years. Terrible referee.

 

Foster stops fights early, it's what he does and it's unfortunate. Frank Cappuccino is rolling in his grave right now

 

Utter nonsense!! Premature yes....the worst...not a chance!! Ur man Parker gave the referee an excuse by offering very little back during a prolonged attack that clearly indicated he was hurt. Nobody to blame for losing but Parker's

 

If there is a cautious ref, fine. I'm all for it, I have seen more than enough fights, where they let half conscious fighters back in the fight just for them to be hit without defending themselves and it is atrocious and I hate it.

But there was no danger of that here. Parker was obviously just really out of breath. The punches didn't do the damage. And someone mentioned foster being the ref for dubois when he had a hurt knee and was pummeled around by lerena? If that's the case it seems more a case of guarding british fighters from losses.
Parker is one of the best in the world, known for his ability to take punches. He weathered multiple worse moments in that same fight already and wardley was losing steam in his punches and hitting parker less and not as cleanly.
Never would he have gotten parker down at this moment. And then wardley would have lost according to what the commentators said about the scorecards.

I was cheering wardley on for his amazing performance. I thought parker was fighting dirty, in close often looking for the back of the head and btw I instantly rewatched the fight and he had surprisingly bad punching technique/form.

But even though I was cheering wardley on, i was deflated when he won. And at the winners interview, when parker had already left the ring, to their credit the english fans, who seem to know their boxing were uncharacteristically quiet.

This stoppage to me seems motivated by the outcome. It destroyed one of the greatest heavyweight fights this year and leaves a sour taste where I was excited like hell before...

 

The stoppage was fine. It was maybe a few seconds early at most. Parker was intelligently defending himself, but enough power shots were getting through, and he looked gassed. This was not Cameron v Whitaler 2, which, in 25 years as a boxing fan, is the worst early stoppage I've ever seen.
I do wonder why Parker came in so heavy, I have never seen him sucking air like that from the 4th onwards.
Wardley is the real deal, and his rise to world title challenger is even more impressive considering his background (no amateur pedigree, late starter at 20, and only faced a handful of quality opponents).
I hope Wardley goes for a big domestic rival at a major stadium next. No rush to face Usyk, who will be a step too far for Wardley and I expect he'll be dismantled by the Ukranian champ.
I hope Parker can come back from this. He's the kind of fighter this sport needs many more of; willing to fight anyone, an all-action style, conducts himself the right way outside the ring.
In fact, they should run it back and fight again, Parker v Wardley 2. I'd buy that for a dollar.
Great to see the announcement of Del Boy v Dillian Whyte. Chisora is an icon of Britishheavyweight boxing and he's g9t every chance to avenge his floss in the first fight with Dillian. It feels like Chisora has been around forever, he's a relic (in the nicest possible way), a hangover from the Klitchko era. If they do this fight in the UK, the atmosphere will be glorious.

 

Firstly i nailed my colours to the mast for Parker, so disappointed he lost.

However i am not going to criticise the ref, Parker was on the ropes taking a barrage of shots in 11th round and not answering.

Would the critics of the ref be also criticising him for not stepping in earlier if he had let the heavy punching Wardley carry on his barrage, and Parker had sustained brain damage.

We either accept a refs decision to stop a fight, or we take away that responsibility from the refs remit.

Do we want to go go full on Ivan Drago "If he dies, he dies," i certainly do not wish that.