Tell me what you think, chaps... Torres-Holt I, 2007 Chavez-Taylor II, 1994 Chavez-Taylor I, 1990 Tyson-Williams, 1989 Tyson-Bruno I, 1989 Leonard-Benitez, 1979 Ali-Lyle, 1975
I'll go to my grave believing that Taylor/Chavez I was stopped prematurely. Steele fucked up, plain and simple. I don't know whether it was a fix or not, but it definitely was a fuckup.
He was very unsteady on his feet and wasn't following the referees instructions. It is not the ref's job to look at the clock and figure out how much time there is left and whether chavez can hit him again. The fight was a good stoppage.
Steele was staring right at the light flashing signaling that the round was essentially over. If he had stood back, held out his arms and then dropped them, before Chavez could even get close enough to punch him, the fight would be over. The fact that Chavez was undefeated, a legend in his country, and a Don King fighter, I'm sure played ZERO part in it.
Who cares if the lights were flashing If he didn't stop it then it's not fair to Chave because the ref is basically saying I saw flashing lights so I figured you're not gonna hit him anymore so I'm gonna let it go. He'd be robbing Chavez then. The ref is not supposed to look at stupid flashing lights. He is supposed to determine if the fighter is good to go or not. He wasn't. Case closed.
During Tyson-Bruno 1, Terry Lawless went up to stop the fight the same time Richard Steele did, so it was pretty much a moot point. I suppose Mills Lane could've let Chavez-Taylor 2 go on a little longer, but it wouldn't have mattered. Taylor was done, his legs were gone after that 6th round.
oh GOD. Lets not revisit Chavez-Taylor, please. Taylor couldn't continue, Chavez had achieved the underlying objective of boxing - he's physically debilitated his opponent within the allocated time period, he was the winner. End of story. Tyson-Ruddock I is always the first fight that comes to my mind.
What about the others, getting back on track. Here's another --- just sour grapes on my part, or something to this one? Vazquez-Marquez II, 2007.
I think CHavez-Taylor 1 was stopped prematurely. Especially because of the rules in place at the time that stated a fighter could be saved by the bell in the 12th and final round. That red beacon meant that Taylor couldn't possibly lose the fight, impossible... unless the ref stops it i think a lot of fights are stopped prematurely, yes to leonard-benitez, yes to torres-holt, yes to ali-lyle no to Tyson-Bruno (as mentioned the corner was gonna stop it anyway), and no to Chavez-Taylor 2, a fighters history has to be taken into account imo, and taylor was beyond shot at this point
Tyson Bruno 1, definitely not. Not even a question. Ali-Lyle...Lyle wasn't punching back and took like 30 unanswered punches.
He was definitely hurt but didnt someone in Taylors corner distract him while the referee was asking him questions?? Benitez vs Leonard was also premature in my Opinion.
Yeah, Duva was up on the ring apron. It sure seemed like Taylor was looking at Duva when Steele was asking him if he was okay. I assume Duva had a say in Taylor's choice of opposition. He also didn't do Taylor any favors after he struggled, was dropped twice, and rocked several times against Glenwood Brown, to match Taylor up with Terry Norris at 149.
I dont have a real problem with any of those though I could see maybe benitez getting a shot at continuing The people who bitch about Chavez/Taylor always miss the most important points 1) Steele asked Taylor twice if he was okay and got NOTHING (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT) 2) Richard Steele is not a timekeeper and his focus is always the fighters and their safety 3) fights are SIXTY MINUTES, not 59:57, SIXTY ... a fighter can LOSE AT ANY TIME, whether its 3 seconds form the first bell or 3 seconds from the last bell
