That was a perfect stoppage. Pascal's hands dropped, his head was drooped, and was probably going down anyway even without follow-up punches. Those of you calling it a bad stoppage...I hope for the sake of the fighters that you never become boxing refs.
precisely. And we all know how that would have ended, with Sergei being such an incredibly hard hitter. We know it, Kovalev knew it (he was gesturing to the ref to stop the fight), Pacal knew it, the ref knew it (thank god). The only people who don't know it are the morons on this site that are calling the stoppage premature, hungry for blood and craving to see a fighter braindead for their amusement.
It was an early stoppage but I can't say bad. The last 2 shots he got hit so flush, I'm shocked he didn't buckle. I'm certain he would've thrown some wild shots after that, that was his M.O. the entire fight. You don't wanna take too many of those.
Total hysteria. In the early to mid-20th century, they let fights go to their natural conclusion and incidence of brain injury was no higher than today. Refs - and sadly, some boxing fans - have become oddly squeamish about lettings fights end naturally. This did not used to be the case.
I would call it devolution. Sadly, both fans and boxers are being cheated as a result of this societal squeamishness. Fans are robbed of seeing the boxing matches they paid to see come to a DEFINITIVE conclusion, and boxers are robbed of their rightful opportunity to perhaps turn defeat into victory. Our feminized culture has destroyed the love of REAL combat and in many respects ruined boxing.
Well said, but I think in this case it was justified... Only the slip saved Pascal from getting KTFO, and he was taking big unanswered shots in the corner. The fight could have gone on for a bit longer I guess, but it was by no-means a terrible stoppage.
same here, i have to watch it again sober lol, i was pretty buzzed last night and remember thinking it was one of the worst stoppages i have ever seen! i thought kovalev looked beatable and the worst performance that i have seen from him. it was no wonder stevenson suddenly wants to fight him. i also couldn't believe my ears when the announcers were saying it was a great stoppage but like i said i have to watch it again sober maybe then it will all make sense.
Actually watching it again I don't think it was that bad but I do still think he stopped it too soon.