Refereeing in Canada vs in the UK

[Tykemania]

Okay, I hope we can avoid rehashing the debate as to whether the Froch-Groves fight was stopped prematurely here but...watching the Quebec card from Saturday night/Sunday morning, I was struck by how incredibly lenient the Canadian officials were in letting fights go on.

First Didier Bence was allowed to continue when really badly buzzed in a heavyweight contest (which was borderline) then a game Columbian was allowed to be knocked down seven times in seven rounds by David Lemiuex before his corner threw in the towel. Then, most shockingly, Ishmael Sillach was allowed to continue against one of the biggest punchers in the world when he was clearly in la la land - the shots that put him down a second time were sicknening. Finally, Tony Bellew ended up trapped in the corner, back half turned on bandy legs because the official, having let it go on, was too far away to intervene when it became clear that he was struggling.

[whiskey]

Marlon B. Wright allowing Bute to continue after Andrade had knocked him down, knowing that the bell had rung by that point and he would win, shall remain one of the worst bits of refeering I've certainly ever seen.

Foster had the best intentions with his approach towards Groves, however much it spoiled the fun on the night.

We seem to have more regard on a personal level between our fighters and referees over here. Over there it's all just meat with gloves on.

It's all very well have the Canadian approach, until something bad happens - and it will one day.

[ArtOfWar]

All depends on your point of view. I look at boxing for what it is, a barbaric physical sport. Others like to spout drivel about it being the sweet science which is nonsense.

Everybody involved knows the risks and with that being said, jumping in at the first sign of trouble is completely wrong. British refs just seem to panic and can't handle the situation in many instances.

[J]

no no.. i thought just the same in all three fights shown i was shouting to stop the fight .

[youngrell]

I think, while we could all see what was about to happen next to Sillakh after the knockdown, the ref was absolutely right to allow it to continue as he stood up and told the ref he was fine. Last week there was uproar because the referee (Foster) used pre-fight misconceptions/reputations to stop a fight too early. As sickening as the finish was, he give the guy every chance to continue.

And the Bellew fight could have been a lot worse and I actually think Stevenson held back a little with his final couple after Tony did the huge wobble, almost waiting for the ref to stop it but the ref was a little slow.

[cold187]

problem in uk

if away fighter slighty dizzy - fight stopped
if home fighter largely dizzy - continue

with chisora, his last 4 fights would not have been stopped elsewhere at their times.
not saying it would have changed the results but just using them as examples

[whiskey]

And the Bellew fight could have been a lot worse and I actually think Stevenson held back a little with his final couple after Tony did the huge wobble, almost waiting for the ref to stop it but the ref was a little slow.

He definitely looked like he was gonna lay the "Pimp hand" on Tony if not for the referee's intervention.

[stujones]

Marlon B. Wright allowing Bute to continue after Andrade had knocked him down, knowing that the bell had rung by that point and he would win, shall remain one of the worst bits of refeering I've certainly ever seen.

Foster had the best intentions with his approach towards Groves, however much it spoiled the fun on the night.

We seem to have more regard on a personal level between our fighters and referees over here. Over there it's all just meat with gloves on.

It's all very well have the Canadian approach, until something bad happens - and it will one day.

I think we've done the Marlon B Wright one to death - for me the possibly poor officiating was in relation to whether the fight should have been stopped before the KD - people though seem to have the biggest gripe with Wright about what he did after Bute was down... I don't have a problem with that, imagine what the reaction would have been had he stopped it... the bell had rung, Bute was up before the 10 count - what reason did Wright have to stop it when he knew Andrade couldn't punch him again.

What I don't like about the British refereeing is the inconsistency - perhaps we don't see enough Canadian refereeing to see inconsistency - but compare Terry O Conner for Calzaghe vs Manfredo and Cleverly vs Kovalev (that was dangerous) - compare IJL for Maccarinelli vs McKenzie and Klitchsko vs Briggs (horrendous how that lasted the distance).

[Datsue]

FWIW, I didn't have a problem with the Bellew stoppage or the Sillakh one.

Neither seemed in any danger of life-threatening injuries; no prolonged beatings had been sustained, no draining give & take tooth & nail battles had been indulged in, none of the fighters in question were dehydrated or exhausted due to the gruelling nature of the contests.

I had no problem with the officiating in either contest. Sillakh had been caught by, what, two punches before he fell apart? & Bellew was indicating that he was okay right until he started doing the cha-cha. I didn't see the Lemieux fight, I admit.

Meself, I simply cannot understand how Kovalev hits like that from the evidence of my own eyes. He really doesn't seem to have much about him, punching-wise he looks so stiff, but dudes go down like they've been snipered from the second row. Boggling stuff.

[stujones]

FWIW, I didn't have a problem with the Bellew stoppage or the Sillakh one.

Neither seemed in any danger of life-threatening injuries; no prolonged beatings had been sustained, no draining give & take tooth & nail battles had been indulged in, none of the fighters in question were dehydrated or exhausted due to the gruelling nature of the contests.

I had no problem with the officiating in either contest. Sillakh had been caught by, what, two punches before he fell apart? & Bellew was indicating that he was okay right until he started doing the cha-cha. I didn't see the Lemieux fight, I admit.

Meself, I simply cannot understand how Kovalev hits like that from the evidence of my own eyes. He really doesn't seem to have much about him, punching-wise he looks so stiff, but dudes go down like they've been snipered from the second row. Boggling stuff.

Agree - maybe the ref allowed Bellew to take one punch too many, but it was just that one punch and it must be difficult to jump in when a fighter is trapped on the ropes.

Chisora fight was a great stoppage IMO.

[crusader]

The Lemieux fight should've been stopped a few knockdowns earlier, but his opponent never seemed too hurt, managed to do well in spots, and was fighting back until the end. The large amount of knockdowns makes the stoppage appear worse than it actually was.

I have no problems with the Sillakh and Bellew stoppages.

[BLASTER100]

problem in uk

if away fighter slighty dizzy - fight stopped
if home fighter largely dizzy - continue