Thaxton-Murray stoppage opinions from the major players

[dbflex]

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/BN08/detail.asp?id=1294

Our Tel speaks to both trainers, the ref and 'Jono' himself in the eternal search for truth. It's out there you know.

All feedback appreciated.

[alexpaterson]

I agree with Joe Gallagher every punch Murray hit Thaxton with he seemed hurt by it I thought the stoppage was spot on nothing was coming back from Thaxton and Murray was landing at will

[Chambers2]

I thought the stoppage was premature given it was a British title fight and that Jono is a warrior. The punch that caught Thaxton (that ultimately lead to the stoppage) landed when JT had his feet together, so I understand his 'off-balance' comment.

Personally I couldn't see Thaxton going on to win the fight and I think that was also in Fosters thoughts when he stepped in to stop it, but it's not for me or the ref to decide who's going to win the fight after 3-4 rounds as fights can change dramatically in the blink of an eye. I think Thaxton deserved a fairer crack of the whip, although it's obviously better to stop someone too early than too late, so I also have my sympathies for Foster..... I just think he got it wrong on this particular night

[Wales]

Surely you can also see Ingles point of view, Williams down twice and hurt against Barker, left to carry on. Later in the fight Barker was battered from pillar to posy by Williams, nothing. Yet Thaxton takes one shot and blocks the others and ref steps in...

Surely you'd say half way through the second round that Williams Barker was "only going one way", yet half way through the third Barker was ebing pumelled.

Still, great for talking points boxing isnt it.

[lowersmiths]

thaxton was getting hit cleanly from start to finish, he just wasn't being competitive. the big murray shot that scrambled his senses was enough. he was going to get hurt. thaxton is at the end of his career and howard foster was spot on.
all this debate about whether it was correct or not may ultimately just spur jonno on to fight again - which he plainly shouldn't. it's over jonno and foster did you a favour.

[Wales]

Didnt he say/confirm he was retiring on that ITV show on Saturday??

[dondada]

"Terry Dooley talks to...the victim" is a rather harsh strapline, no?

[Adamj1987]

the stoppage was premature and jon had plenty left but he was going to lose i dont think he could summon up a sunday punch to turn the fight. jon was going to lose but he wasnt going to lose for some time yet

[THEBUTCH]

It was a poor stoppage. The timing wasn't right to end the fight, especially in a title contest.

[Wrists]

Stoppage was a tad early IMO.

Foster however is a very good ref.

Murray much better than I thought he was

[dbflex]

"Terry Dooley talks to...the victim" is a rather harsh strapline, no?

The victim of the stoppage, not the victim of an injustice but the double meaning gets people reading. Could be worse?

[Autobarn]

I like Thaxton's response in this week's BN mag:

Says it was stopped too early etc etc, then in a truly sporting gesture, he says "the only thing I regret on the night is not giving John Murray more credit." That seemed to sum everything up, all the effort in training snatched away from the ol' warrior by the ref, but also hints at the outstanding boxing skills that Murray was displaying.

Classy fighter & very sporting, an opinion that many have of Thaxton.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Thaxton really is a classy guy isn't he?

I think he knew himself that he was under duress, and would have struggled if it had carried on, but rightly wanted the opportunity to make a stand and try and turn the fight.

Jono's an articulate guy, and I think he could make a good commentator given a shot and a bit of grooming, I think he would be able to be level headed and informative. Let's hope he gets a chance in the studio.

[Autobarn]

this is why it's a bleeding shame that ITV have pulled out of boxing.

thaxton has been an excellent pundit for the hennessy/ITV shows & it would have been good to see him continue (a great counterpoint to fatfaced studio experts on corporate payroll over at sky!). and just as murray comes out and dominates the british scene, just as there's a real buzz re john murray, then ITV aren't there to televise him.

bad timing.

[DavidPayne]

...again.

I often muse about what might have been had Hatton not left FW when he signed the ITV deal.

[DavidPayne]

Thaxton really is a classy guy isn't he?

I think he knew himself that he was under duress, and would have struggled if it had carried on, but rightly wanted the opportunity to make a stand and try and turn the fight.

Jono's an articulate guy, and I think he could make a good commentator given a shot and a bit of grooming, I think he would be able to be level headed and informative. Let's hope he gets a chance in the studio.

He's intelligent and insightful but he had the Rooney, "you know" off pat.

[Captain Hook]

Thaxton really is a classy guy isn't he?

I think he knew himself that he was under duress, and would have struggled if it had carried on, but rightly wanted the opportunity to make a stand and try and turn the fight.

Jono's an articulate guy, and I think he could make a good commentator given a shot and a bit of grooming, I think he would be able to be level headed and informative. Let's hope he gets a chance in the studio.

Agreed....solid career, top man, still got his wits about him and hopefully he is financially secure.

[whicker]

Presmature of two reasons.

1. Thaxton was still fighting, and defending himself on the ropes. The ref could have jumped in as soon as Thaxton started to sag from punches- IF that happened.

2. It denied a "clean ending" to the fight, which is just as frustrating. Has Murray won in the exact round, which he may well have done, then it would have been an undebated ending, an a clear end to Thaxton's career. This stoppage still leaves a "maybe" mark.

...

However, what can a referee do? It only takes a punch to serious injury (or worse) a boxer, and if he genuinly felt that Thaxton was finished as a competative force (ie just waiting to be stopped) in the contest, then it was senseless to let it continue.

We can all be "wise after the event" , but images of an exhaused Paul Ingle going out for round 12 must be in the minds of all who have a care for the boxer's safety.

[Autobarn]

Stoppage was a tad early IMO.

Foster however is a very good ref.

Murray much better than I thought he was

i've always rated him as a brutally efficient pressure fighter, since the odamattey and especially hickman fights. but definitely, he seemed to show something extra v thaxton, some extra boxing ability and versatility.

[Spud]

FFS

This is not controversial - the stoppage was a compassionate and correct call to make - simple as that.

[Asterix]

I initially thought it was premature, but when I saw it from the referee's angle (face on) it looked like a good stoppage. Thaxton was seriously rocked from one of those punches and in no position to defend himself properly. The referee was looking out for Thaxton's welfare, and it was an unbiased stoppage, imo. In that, I'm happy.

[Wrists]

No Spud its not as simple as that.

Compassionate maybe, right? Probably not.

Jono was not taking huge, multiple shots and had recovered from taking a SINGLE shot, albeit was on unsteady legs for a short while.

Your black and white (no pun intended) take on things sometimes makes you out to be someone who cannot take other peoples point of view on board.

I think the general concensus was that the stoppage was a little early, you disagree thats fine.

No need to come on spouting phrases such as FFS

Kevin

[jamesmcdonnell]

I initially thought it was premature, but when I saw it from the referee's angle (face on) it looked like a good stoppage. Thaxton was seriously rocked from one of those punches and in no position to defend himself properly. The referee was looking out for Thaxton's welfare, and it was an unbiased stoppage, imo. In that, I'm happy.

If he was in no position to defend himself, then, pray tell, how did he manage to do just that, by evading the next three shots that came his way by dodging and weaving underneath them?

Honestly, I despair sometimes.

[Wrists]

Aye - last time I looked swaying out the way of punches was 'defending himself'.

Another thing - this whole notion of 'Thaxton has had a long career' therefore the stoppage was right, is a very dangerous road to go down.

Christ Carl Thompson would have not had a career if his fights were stopped when he 'took some few hard shots'.

Bottom Line - stoppage was too early, not outrageously, but still too early.

[Wrists]

Exactly.

Evidently Spud knows more than the Ingles, 80% of posters on here and everyone else who talks about boxing.

Spud - its not you (before you bite like a harbour shark) its the tone of your posts