If you watch closely, Taylor actually nods at the ref in resgoponse to "Are you OK?" at 1:46. Its hard to spot because the cameraman is moving and doing a bad job in general. Even if we ignore this, I believe the stoppage was terrible. Taylor beat Chavez over 12 rounds that night, got caught at the end of the fight and the win was given to Chavez via early stoppage.
Guess what? Taylor was damaged goods. Look at his fights in the interim, and the calibre of opponents he faced.
I think Taylor post-Chavez 1 was still pretty good as he beat Aaron Davis & Gleenwood Brown. It's just that after he moved up(bad move) to face Norris his career went downhill.
He didn't (coming from a neutral fan). He did look superb in the beginning, but if you watch closely (watch it again) Chavez was landing sneaky HARD counters to the body and head. When Taylor got 'caught' in the 12th he was already badly beaten up by then.
i never thought this statement made sence until isaw this fight ;taylor was winning the rounds but losing the fight;
In my heart, I was extremely pissed about the stoppage. In my mind, I realize that the "letter of the law" interpretation of the rules supports the stoppage. Every rebuttal by Taylor supporters leads right back to the literal definition of a referee's job, clock or no clock.
The ref should have put on his timekeeper hat and made a sympathetic exception for Taylor. Taylor should have won via tears, vaginal juices, and sympathy. Steele should have said "**** the rules and have a heart". Or he should have done what he did and be objective about his job.
I also think that Mayorga should have gotten a slower count against Mosley. **** rules. He should be rewarded for making a fight of it for 12 rounds.
Who cares. Pernell Whitaker was better of the 2 and completely schooled Chavez ass. Instead of the ref saving his record it was the judges.