Would Castillo vs Corrales I and Gatti vs Ward I been stopped earlier by a current ref?

Either could have been called when they happened with a different ref, or maybe the same ref on a different night, so to speak (as in they didn’t stop those fights the way they played out the one time, but the judgment by the same ref could have been different — they didn’t let every fight go on when a fight was receiving a beating).

 

Yes there have been quick and too-late stoppages across all eras.

 

Foreman stoppage of Chuvalo and stoppage of Lyle oft makes me believe me its a matter of ref, though era certainly has its influence.

Deaths in the ring always happened and through the century of boxing's history there were always boycotts and calls to make it safer and less violent. Things have changed, but at the end of the day you cannot go too far without killing the soul of the sport.

If I witnessed the visceral tragedy of Griffith-Paret III, I would certainly assume similar tragedy won't ever happen again, but since then we had countless ring wars bordering on similar level of punishment ans other notorious tragedies (Gerald McClellan, Kim Duk-koo.)

Granted, you could often find circumstances underlaying the disaster—sparring etiquette, regular doctor check-up and clean, almost monastic lifestyle would likely help the fighters more than British stoppages and reduced round count.

I think ultimately it depends very much on the referee. The general public and people involved in the sport fully understood the potential tragedies decades ago—they understood and were reminded of it every time the story of Baroudi falling dead after the Cobra's strike resurfaced; every time the photo of the Paret kid caught in the ropes shows up; every time a fighter drops to the canvas from a murderous punch as a reminder of Baer disconnecting Frankie Campbell's brain.

If anything, money and A/B side balance is universally more important than era.

 

Some fights are stopped early, some too late... and some at just the right time. Now and back in the day.

I don't think more squeamish referees today are depriving us of great matches, like the ones mentioned here. Do you guys remember Wood vs Conlan from last year? Not a high-profile fight like Castillo vs Corrales, but 12 rounds that were every bit as hard-fought and ferocious!

 

They would have been stopped earlier by Richard Steele