In the British context, was the stoppage even that bad?

It was an early stoppage even for British boxing, kind of reminded me of the first Enzo-McKenzie fight where the Ref stopped the fight out of caution for what he fought was about to happen then what was actually happening.

I was actually fine with the Chisora vs Scott/Pala stoppages as they both made sense to me and were done by the rules of boxing.

Scott was counted out 'in the act of rising'. A boxing count is 10 seconds, not 11 and a boxer has to be up by the count of 9 and show he is ready to fight rather then start rising at the count of 9.

As for Pala, he clearly turned his back to the action and gave the impression he no longer wanted to continue boxing and was in no position to defend himself so again the Ref made the only decision available to him which was stop the fight.

 

The issues with this fight are that it was a world title fight, Groves was winning, it was his first real sign of trouble and Froch had taken huge bombs and been out on his feet several times before the stoppage. Remove any one of those factors and it's probably not a bad stoppage, but with them all together it just accumulates into a very poor stoppage.

 

That's how I felt at the time and how I still feel, it was Groves first crisis and he didn't get a chance to show his metal.

Froch was also robbed of pulling off what would of been an outstanding comeback.

Unsatisfactory all round!!

 

Good post Stitty.

I agree if Groves had been taking a sustained beating for a few rounds and needed protecting from himself then stopping the fight 'too soon' would have be fine and even applauded for being a good decision.

 

Anyone who watches this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51bAmx89ciw

Yet doesn't think it was arguably one of the worst stoppages ever seen is an utter cretin.

 

It wasn't any of the above options but I took the last one because it came the closest to my idea.

 

Took 3 heavy shots . Legs weren't even gone. Groves is very mobile and under the cosh looks a bit raggedy . Bit like naz when he was getting bashed about by Barrera.

He was in a worse place against Anderson and came back to win so was definitely too early.

 

So early it may aswell have been at the weigh in...

I agree its an institutional thing... Lemieux's fight the other night his opponent was on the deck multiple times before the stoppage, wouldnt have happened over here our officials other-mother the fighters.

 

It was a typical British ref stoppage....but that doesn't make it acceptable. It was awful, yet had it been a journeyman foreigner stopped in that fashion you'd hear very little more about it. The sky pundits and wider Brit boxing media would cover for the ref as per usual and it'd be forgotten within the hour. Something similar then happens the next week and the pattern continues in perpetuity. This particular stoppage only got the attention it did because it occurred against a significant British fighter in a major box office fight.

These pathetic stoppages are the worst aspect of British boxing at present. The boxing media needs to start kicking up a fuss and putting consistent pressure on the BBBoC regarding it. Something needs to change.

 

A typical British stoppage. Let's be honest, we always see these similar type of stoppages in British Boxing. Any sign of a fighter being hurt we are quick to stop the fight.

In America, the fight would have went on.

 

He had his hands up, was throwing back, and was clearly hurt, but there is no way it should of been stopped.

The ref didn't even give himself enough time to see how Groves reacted to the punches.

Awful stoppage. And awful ending to a great fight