Is it just me but is anyone else tired of premature stoppages? I know it is the refs responsibility to protect both fighters from mortal injury, but this year has seen a number of fighters stopped far too early, and how many times have we seen fighters wobbled and then recover to win a fight over the years. Sort it out fellas, nothing is more frustrating than to see a fight waved off far too early, and it's becoming a right pain now for all concerned.
Why put on a multimillion pound/dollar sports event of the year, and let an idiotic, overwhelmed, possibly paid off oaf (howard foster) who can't do his job, ruin the whole show in a split second. Makes it all seem so senseless. Even going to the score cards after a ridiculously premature stoppage like that, is better than the disgraceful turn of events we got tonight. Its not logical its not rational, boxing needs change NOW. (and howard foster should be banned)
It was an awful stoppage no doubt about it stuggling to think of a worse one here for a fight of that level.
Was appalling. No way will we get any decent fighters over here for a while (as in foreign titlists or challengers)
That idiot Howard Foster should reimburse all the fans that paid good money to see what was a great fight until the idiot dived in and got Groves in a headlock. The clown ruined it and should pay for it.
I feel sorry for the ref to be honest. He made a split second decision and it was an appalling one and now he's reputation is tarnished forever. I am however very annoyed about to the inconsistences. He let Carl take punches and wobble etc. but as soon as George looked in trouble he ended the fight. The ref also let Carl hit George after saying 'break' etc. I think Carl should have been deducted a point by round 9. I don't know much about this referee but I would assume he was a good one seeing he was the ref for the main event. So I don't think he should be banned or anything, if he was a repeat offender though then I feel then a ban or investigation may be needed. I just think we shouldn't go onto a witch-hunt for this ref as he probably knows he's made a poor decision and he is going to get grief for a long time now for what I thought looked like an honest mistake. First post woo!!
There's a reason the term "Brit stoppages" was coined. It seems curious that the British fighters can take a hiding and the ref lets them go on, but the non-Brit gets rocked in any way and it's all about his safety. Can anyone give examples of recent high-profile fights in the UK where the Brit was stopped the first time he was hurt like this and not the other way around? I'm not saying Tyson Fury-Nich Firtha should have been stopped, but when Tyson was doing the chicken dance there was no stoppage. Couple of rounds later Fury is getting the better of it but Firtha is fighting back ... and Fury lands a right that turns Firtha's head but in no way wobbles his legs and the ref jumps in to "save" him. That's just one example -- and Fury was the better fighter here and would have won anyway, probably by eventual stoppage, but ... if Firtha had been a Brit and Fury had been from the U.S., we all KNOW that the fight would have been stopped immediately when Fury was doing the chicken dance. And this is just another example. I seriously can't imagine any manager/promoter allowing his non-Brit fighter to take a fight in the UK knowing that all the Brit has to do is land a single solid punch to have the fight suddenly waved off ... whereas the Brit will be allowed to keep going until he's counted out. It's utter garbage, and there are too many examples for it to be just coincidence.
Who cares about the ref? The fighters dedicate their whole lives and have it all taken away from them by some fat halfwit in a bow tie. It's a damn shame. For my mind if you make an egregious mistake like that ONCE you're done. But who cares if we don't see that ref again. Another incompetent ******* will just take his place. The whole system needs reviewing, but getting competent impartial refs will go a long way to fixing the problem.
Howard Foster is a fantastic referee, he has proved that time and time again. The stoppage was clearly premature, however, if Groves had been badly hurt it would have caused a lot more controversy. "Damned if you do & damned if you dont".
British referees are simply not competent. This happens too often for it to be a coincidence; they're a laughing stock and don't understand the sport of boxing, demeaning it in the process.
I think what makes it worst was he wasnt consistent, he gave froch chances to recover but didn't give groves a chance which is a shame. however i do believe groves was hurt and becoming less effective in rounds 7,8,9. I do also remember the watson fight and the ref being the other way around and got slated for it for years so its a difficult job
It was a bad stoppage Groves was hurt but was not given the opportunity to cover up let alone fire back. Stoppages for me obviously when a fighter has taken too much punishment or unable to defend themselves Groves was neither.