Opinions on Rogan - Sexton

It was a fairly even fight on the cards, the 8th could have been a 10-8 in favour of Rogan. Rogan is the better fighter, but was hampered by the eye injury, at this stage (and Sexton is young and has time to improve) he is unlikely to win fights against any top 50 fighters.
Rogan probably could have finished it in rd8 but made a mistake, the lull allowed the gumshield replacement and Rogan was struggling to see. Primarily the referee is there to make sure a boxers health is protected, I agree he should have stopped the fight when Sexton's hands were low and he was staggering, but he did not and a minute or so later the doctor advised him to stop it, rarely (and quite rightly) will a referee go against a doctors advice.
I think the only 'flaw' was that the ref should have stopped the fight in the 8th when Sexton looked out of it.

 

Fair enough.

 

Guys like you are a dime a dozen. See an opinion they don't like and jump in two feet first demanding people back up their opinion with a cash bet.

Let me reiterate - I am not making a bet over some internet forum especially about a fight I don't really give two shits about. It's that simple. Avatar bets are a bit of fun but do me a favour - calm the **** down and stop acting like a jumped up little twelve year old who isn't getting his way. :nut

 

Inspiring Martin Rogan loses heavyweight title but raises reputation with sportsmanship

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By Martin Newman 16/05/2009
Defeated champ refused to finish off challenger Sam Sexton when he was defenceless and out on his feet.

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Boxer Martin Rogan lost his Commonwealth heavyweight title last night on a technicality but walked from the ring a winner in the eyes of most observers.
The Belfast cabbie, who has thrilled British boxing with a series of victories over some of the best heavyweights in the country, appeared to have challenger Sam Sexton out on his feet moments before the contest was stopped by the ringside doctor in the eighth round.
But as Sexton’s mouthguard fell to the mat and he lolled near the ropes with both arms dangling at his side, his eyes rolling in his head, Rogan refused to finish him off.
In a rare display of sportsmanship in the ring Rogan, 38, appealed to the ref, as he stood off his man, to end the fight humanely.
It gave the younger challenger enough time to muster a weak left and right to Rogan’s whiskers as he stood in front of him offering no defence himself. But the punches were brushed aside by the Irishman, who still showed an unwillingness to attack his stricken opponent.
Ref Dave Parris then halted the action to allow Sexton to put his mouthguard back in, and gave him enough time to compose himself.
Rogan renewed his two-fisted assault on Sexton but shortly later was taken aside to have his swollen eye examined for the second time and the fight was called off.
While the decision was booed by Rogan’s many fans there was nothing controversial about it.
With the champion’s left eye completely closed over the ringside doctor didn’t hesitate in telling Parris the fight should not go on.
It was a valiant decision by the unnamed official in the face of a crowd that sensed their man was on the verge of victory.
But in many ways it summed up a night that reminded us all of what is best in boxing.
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The contest itself had been a back and forth affair. County Durham’s Sexton appeared to have Rogan in trouble on more than one occasion after rocking him with heavy left and right hooks. The 24-year-old’s jab too was a constant danger, peppering Rogan’s face, and his power punches were delivered with snap and accuracy.
Sexton was frequently able to string together four and five punch combinations delivered at pace and with thuds that echoed around the Odyssey Arena.
Rogan, 38, who won the British Empire belt with a thrilling 11th-round technical knockout of Matt Skelton in February, had looked to land big rights throughout.
He managed that on several occasions and also showed enough head movement to avoid many of Sexton’s more dangerous shots, as he seemed content to box and move.
Sexton dominated the early rounds, but also had to shake off several hurtful shots while gradually working Rogan over. He had the champ in trouble and holding on in the second and seventh. While Rogan came on strong in the sixth rocking Sexton with heavy thudding punches, while chasing him around the ring.
By the middle rounds the unbeaten Belfast man's left eye was nearly closed and Parris called for the doctor to inspect the injury in the seventh but let the fight continue.
But it was the fateful eighth when Rogan launched a brutal assault on Sexton that had the challenger reeling against the ropes and seemingly unable to defend himself.
The decision to end the fight at 2:13 of the eighth was the right one, but was predictably met with passionate disapproval by the 7,000-strong partisan Belfast crowd.
Rogan was magnanimous in defeat, raising Sexton’s arm in victory, but noted afterwards: "I'm sorry the way it ended but I'll be back.
"I thought the referee would stop it because he (Sexton) was all over the place but hopefully I'll get a return."
Sexton, who shows great promise, improved to 13 victories without loss, while Rogan suffered his first defeat in 13 fights.