I still think he beat Whyte. But he could have done more to separate himself in that one. It was a poor performance. He's far more talented than Whyte.
This. Hopefully they succeed, since I’ve literally seen guys eye poke their way to victory in some MMA matches. As much as I like Jon Jones he uses eye pokes regularly, since he knows no referee wants to be known as the guy that disqualified Jon Jones. Travis Browne is another guy that I’ve seen that shamelessly poked his way to victory. Both guys are more than good enough to win without resorting to eye pokes, but if there isn’t any consequence I can see why they use them.
I agree. I also think he beat Whyte. But as you said it was a poor performance although the headbutt was a factor i think. Hope we'll see a rematch.
Jones is definitely guilty of doing it intentionally. Can't remember the opponent but Jones pushed his head away with an open hand to the face. It was as blatant as it could be.
Bit disappointed in Parker that he felt the need to resort to this. He needs to work on improving his fundamentals, not fighting dirtier.
If as stern action should have been taken in result to fouls. The reason Parker has got a bit more wild is he clearly (and justifiably) felt that someone else fighting dirty while he stayed clean cost him a fight he could have and should have won and it has seriously hurt his career. I don't agree with what he did in this fight, however I think it would have needed (even if still not really kosher) to have a fair fight with Whyte. There was NO place for it against Flores. The reason I brought Whyte up is that there was WAY more at stake there, Flores was always going to lose and the way it was going - VERY likely by KO anyway. This didn't change anywhere near as much as the Whyte fight fouls did, the majority of were clearly deliberate and blatent. The conversation needs to be had about boxing in general, not specifically this one fight... and if an injustice in Parker's resume were to be looked at where a previous result should be overturned then the Whyte one is a bigger deal than this one. I didn't like what I saw, but making this a NC and overlooking all the other more significant ref-fails doesn't make anything better. Agreed with this. I am still thinking about this, Parker was beating him up anyway - it may or may not have sped things up, the low blows particularly bother me because they were NOT needed. Also not clear, it seemed like he didn't try particularly hard not to but I reallllly hope it wasn't deliberate.
Parker hopefully has learned his lesson here - that he needs full INTENSITY - but actual fouls are not on. Mostly those blows seemed on the beltline to me - but Parker needs to stay a clean fighter - no fouls needed Hopefully he has now got it out of his system
We need a more detailed set of rules, and the most universal implementation of those rules as we can possibly get. Low blows, headbutts, elbows, etc. have been masterfully used by some of the sports greatest legends. The best are able to make the fouls look accidental, or hide them from the ref, but they have always played a role in the sport. We have to decide how much we will accept, and that includes clinching and holding as well. Excessive clinching and holding is one of the most blatant fouls we see today that often goes unpunished. I think that's a much bigger problem in boxing than other fouls to be honest. Some boxers entire style is built around excessive holding. It might not be a foul that causes damage like the others, but it still hurts the sport. We need stricter implementation of all rules.
It was clearly very low. IMO it should have been a point deduction and 5 minute recovery for Flores. A no contest should be ruled in hindsight.
Definitely a low blow and Flores definitely has a case for it being the set up for the first knockdown. Refs will miss things just like the ref missed the head butt knockdown in the Whyte/Parker clash. Had the ref picked up on the low blows, then a deduction and some recovery time would be justice. A no contest would've been a farce. The better man won in the end.
He didn't miss it though. He warned Parker, and Parker went right back to doing it again. Flores has a right to be aggrieved here.
I think Parker knows he has to be meaner, but yes, that shouldn't involve becoming an intentionally dirty fighter. He's better than that. More than the intensity though he needs to fix up his fundamental flaws. He still pulls back in straight lines and telegraphs his punches with his jab. If Barry can't get him out of those bad habits then maybe he needs a change of trainer.