Standing 8

[WelshJack]

Does anyone think that refs should give an 8 count when someone is against the ropes and not replying with shots, instead of the fight being stopped when the fighter isn't badly hurt. I know there are lots of positives and negatives to this, but something has to be done.

[Ally-M1]

It would've given Groves a chance if there was scope in the Big 4's Rules for a standing 8.

I'm not sure what effect it would have but whilst trying to keep myself out of the media frenzy of the weekend, I think there is probably merit in having a standing 8 in Big 4 World Title fights.

[Controversial]

In a post fight interview Fitzpatrick said they were going to look into the rules for the fight as he thought the standing 8 should've been used. I've not heard an update as to whether Foster should have used this option before stopping it.

[DMA1987]

He wasn't on the ropes though? I thought a standing 8 was when you believed the ropes were holding an opponent up? He was mid ring.

[Tykemania]

To be fair, Groves sagged back heavily into the ropes in the lead up to the stoppage - I would personally have thought that that would have been the ideal time to give him the standing count as, aside from anything, the ropes appeared to be the only thing holding him up. As has been noted elsewhere, this would have given him 10 seconds to get his bearings which would then hopefully have allowed the fight to reach a natural conclusion.

[Wales]

Could a standing 8 have been administered? Is that within the rules? Seems a bit of a grey area as nobody has a definitive answer

[taffytoon]

Could a standing 8 have been administered? Is that within the rules? Seems a bit of a grey area as nobody has a definitive answer

No

[palooka]

I can remember that the referee used to say whether the standing 8 was in effect during the final instructions in center ring, they would also say whether the 3 knock down rule was in effect.

[CheckHook]

To my mind the only time it would've been legitimate is from the first right hand that bounces George into the ropes, but that would've been heavy handed too, because I don't think George would've been put down if the ropes weren't there anyway. The rest of the time he isn't really being held up by the ropes and at the time of the stoppage he is trying to find a way of getting himself out of the firing line. I don't think the situation ever warranted a standing 8 count and Foster should've just let the action flow and given George a chance to dig himself out of the situation, take a knee or get stopped on his feet when he was further gone.

[rhino222]

George should have taken a knee!

[stevek3lly]

George should have taken a knee!

A more experienced fighter would have done and got himself ready to go again.

[rossij8]

If he had given an eight count it would have caused less controversy than it has without

[WelshJack]

George should have taken a knee!

Like he said he wasn't hurt.

[CharlesListon]

Deleted

[taffytoon]

World Title and European title fights require a rules meeting, usually the day before the contest. Both camps are informed in full, what the rules will be. Professional British Boxing does not allow a Standing 8 count.
A referee either has to wait for a boxer to touch down, take a knee or get knocked to the canvas before he can administer a count. That is unless he feels that the ropes are the only thing that is keeping the boxer upright. He will then administer a mandatory 8 count. If he feels the boxer is in no position to continue he can either complete the 8-count and wave the contest off. In these circumstances it will be recorded as RSC. If he starts the count and feels that the boxer will not make the count, or requires immediate attention he will wave it off and it will be recorded as a TCO. If a boxer is knocked to the canvas and the referee feels that the boxer has taken enough punishment or is unlikely to benefit from a count he may wave it off as RSC.
For safety reason it is always better to save the boxer from taking the final punch. I have no doubt this is what one of the world's finest referees felt on Saturday night. He had a split second to make his decision and he was decisive in executing his decision. 8 full rounds had elapsed. Punches accumulate their damaging effect. Howard knows this. He made the correct decision under immense pressure. As a punter....maybe the ending was less conclusive than a knock-out or a knock down. Maybe it raises the 'what ifs?' If anyone would honestly prefer to gamble on the difference between a 'What if...he had been allowed to continue?' and a 'What if George Groves had been injured' then shame on you.
The In-Ring instructions are a watered down version of what the referee discusses with the boxers in the dressing room.
Its pointless reading out war and peace to the boxers when they are in the ring. They are 100% focused on the contest. The final instructions are pretty much a coverall to a) Show spectators that the boxers know what is expected and b) Minimise the risk of a boxer saying they didn't know the rules.
It's frustratingly amusing to me that so many people have been so quick to condemn Howard Foster whilst being so ignorant of the rules of the sport. Howard Foster is a gentleman and only had the interests of George Groves at heart. In the long term he did Groves a favour. He is certainly able to come again without the ignominy of a heavy stoppage defeat. I've been a referee for about 5 yrs and Howard has been very helpful. He deserves so much better.

Game set and match.

[jamesmcdonnell]

George should have taken a knee!

Like he said he wasn't hurt.

That's just not true, he may say he wasn't hurt, but his legs were still very unsteady when he was in his corner after the stoppage - if he was still on unsteady legs at that point, then he wasn't in a position to continue.

I think in the long run, Groves has benefitted from this result, he has in many people's minds got the moral victory (not in mine), and will have made lots of fans - he's got a defeat on his record, but not one which will damage his career at all.

Froch is probably only 1 or 2 fights from retirement - and he may well get a rematch, though I fear that the lack of respect that Froch is being shown, is if anything hardening his position against Groves.

At the end of the day, Froch cannot be held accountable for the stoppage, and deserves some respect for his ability to ride out a storm and come back to turn the tide.

I hope the rematch happens, nontheless.

[ALI]

George should have taken a knee!

I've heard it all now.

Why the fcuk would he consider taking a knee if he felt good enough to continue and it was nowhere in his mind that the ref might stop the fight???

What kind of advice is that?