Saw the fight. Sergei is with Tommy Brooks now.He looked as good as he could against Bates who is very limited.He was easily making him miss and making him pay countering Bates's wild swings easy.Bates was coming forward stupidly and just played into the Belarussian's hands. But the right hook to the body left hook to the head that made the ref wave it off was not that powerful.Bates was wobbled yes but he was already set to fight by the time the ref was there.Premature stoppage IMO but don't matter that much anyway.
The refs played it safe that night.Kelvin Davis was in trouble and wobbled,but he could have continued figthing with Frenkel ,too.Another premature stoppage IMO. But as you said it didnt really matter that much anyway !