Howard Foster

[geronimo]

Is Howard Foster one of the worst referee ever?

[Boxerbeetle]

No.

[magwitch]

[wesshaw1985]

Inconsistent, definitely.
Whyte took major punishment and got ko'd. Good reffing.
Groves on the other hand...

[Ricky_]

Was fine last night. That overhand right from Whyte after r1 missed him by an inch.

[Tuan_Jim]

I thought he had a good night last night. A couple of times when Whyte was staggering I was thinking, 'Please stand back Howard, let this play out.' The result was an entertaining fight that ran to its definitive conclusion. Everyone happy.

I'm fairly certain Terry O'Connor would have jumped at the first opportunity to stop Whyte after he jolted AJ in the 2nd. There were several opportunities for nefarious officiating.

[Batley18]

I think he did a great job last night. The Mitchell slip as a knock down was unfortunate but from his position it would have looked like a connected punch was responsible for.him going down.

[dr_devious]

He did a great job managing the aftermath of the end of round 1 rumpus

[Parson Cross]

Word up for Clifton Mitchell and his team as well.

[stujones]

I think they needed a bit more than a bit of a talking too after the 1st round - there should have been some point deductions, that was horrible.

I think had there been another ref in there then Whyte would have got DQ'd - I'm glad we had a conclusive finish in this one and not Joshua vs Whyte 2 - unfinished business.... although part of me still thinks the DQ would have been the right call. There were people calling for the Tyson vs Savarese fight to be reversed after Tyson continued the fight after it being stopped - what Whyte in retaliation wasn't good for the sport, but thankfully we ended up with a good fight so that will largely be forgotten.

I am sure Froch vs Groves 1 was in Foster's thoughts when he decided to act as he did. He didn't want to get the terrible treatment in his most high profile outing since Froch vs Groves 1.

[taffytoon]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir.

[stujones]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir.

So you don't feel Whyte deserved a point deduction for nearly punching the ref to get to Joshua about 10 seconds after the bell had clearly gone?

[Yes We Can]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir. :TU:

So you don't feel Whyte deserved a point deduction for nearly punching the ref to get to Joshua about 10 seconds after the bell had clearly gone?

I think both deserved points deductions. Whyte was a fool, who completely blew his top but AJ has a nasty and consistent habit of punching after the bell now.

Foster probably did the correct thing, and i think he was more than fair to both fighters throughout the fight.

[Ricky_]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir.

So you don't feel Whyte deserved a point deduction for nearly punching the ref to get to Joshua about 10 seconds after the bell had clearly gone?

I think both deserved points deductions. Whyte was a fool, who completely blew his top but AJ has a nasty and consistent habit of punching after the bell now.

Foster probably did the correct thing, and i think he was more than fair to both fighters throughout the fight.

Joshua has got away with a few things inc hitting after the bell and hitting guys when they are down, but i rewatched the incident a couple of times and Joshua's left hook was pretty much right on the bell. I don't see what the problem was tbh, maybe Whyte was looking for a way out, he took a beating in round 1.

[tijuana1]

Howard Foster overall is a fantastic ref one of the best we have. I wouldn't have any problem with him referring my sons fights in the future. Great bloke.

[Supremo]

Thought he did well.

[CharlesListon]

Great job last night, gently let the air out of the balloon.
Spot on.

[charliebox324]

Geronimo You Are A Troll.Who Hides Behind Your User Name.I Watched A Fight Between 2 Boxers Who Where Fuelled Full Of Tension Anger Amosity And Real Dislike Towards One Another.In Front Of A Huge Crowd.Howard Foster Should Be Applaud And Praised For The Way He Handled The Fight. This Forum Does Have Some Good Posters With Good Input And Interesting Discussions.However On A Sunday Evening Reading Some Womble On Here Talking Utter Shit.Gets My Back Up.So Geronimo Get On The Phone To The Doctor In The Morning As Your One And Only Brain Cell Is On The Blink.

[chiggsy]

Not a fan of foster at all but i couldn't fault him last night he was excellent.

[taffytoon]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir.

So you don't feel Whyte deserved a point deduction for nearly punching the ref to get to Joshua about 10 seconds after the bell had clearly gone?

Could not deduct one without the other so why bother? He read them the riot act prior to round 2 starting = spot on refereeing

[handsofstone]

Geronimo You Are A Troll.Who Hides Behind Your User Name.I Watched A Fight Between 2 Boxers Who Where Fuelled Full Of Tension Anger Amosity And Real Dislike Towards One Another.In Front Of A Huge Crowd.Howard Foster Should Be Applaud And Praised For The Way He Handled The Fight. This Forum Does Have Some Good Posters With Good Input And Interesting Discussions.However On A Sunday Evening Reading Some Womble On Here Talking Utter poo.Gets My Back Up.So Geronimo Get On The Phone To The Doctor In The Morning As Your One And Only Brain Cell Is On The Blink.

Fvck me Chazz how the hell do you manage to type like that

[stujones]

He handled AJ v DW impeccably; a lot of refs would have DQ one or both after round 1. Well done sir.

So you don't feel Whyte deserved a point deduction for nearly punching the ref to get to Joshua about 10 seconds after the bell had clearly gone?

Could not deduct one without the other so why bother? He read them the riot act prior to round 2 starting = spot on refereeing

Even if you think both were equally as guilty for the first round fracas then both should have been docked points. You cannot act like that with just a warning..... you should have warnings, then points docked and then DQ'd - that was close to a DQ as you get if you ask me.

I think Whyte's retaliation was worst than Joshua being fractionally (IMO) late. I thought Joshua deserved a point deduction for his second late infringement though. Let alone the in ring infringement - I always thought that means an instant DQ? I was fully expecting it to be declared a No Contest after the first round..... yes, glad it wasn't - but I thought there was clear rules and outsiders coming into the ring.

So I disagree, I think Whyte's intentional attack deserved at least 1 point deduction.

[Horse]

I think they needed a bit more than a bit of a talking too after the 1st round - there should have been some point deductions, that was horrible.

I think had there been another ref in there then Whyte would have got DQ'd - I'm glad we had a conclusive finish in this one and not Joshua vs Whyte 2 - unfinished business.... although part of me still thinks the DQ would have been the right call. There were people calling for the Tyson vs Savarese fight to be reversed after Tyson continued the fight after it being stopped - what Whyte in retaliation wasn't good for the sport, but thankfully we ended up with a good fight so that will largely be forgotten.

I am sure Froch vs Groves 1 was in Foster's thoughts when he decided to act as he did. He didn't want to get the terrible treatment in his most high profile outing since Froch vs Groves 1.

Joshua should have been disqualified if someone had to be disqualified.

How many times is he going to get away with hitting his opponent after the bell?

In the interview afterwards he said it was the ref's job to stop him punching after the bell, not his. The guy is a bloody loon.

[jamiem26]

Joshua caught him just after the bell and Whyte gave him one back - fair enough, a warning for both would have been fine.

However, Whyte then completely lost his head and went after Joshua, throwing again and nearly KOing the ref in the process! Could have easily been DQ'd; I was amazed that he wasn't, but glad as we saw an excellent fight.

Foster did a good job overall, had a few opportunities to step in earlier but rightly let it go on.

[stujones]

I think they needed a bit more than a bit of a talking too after the 1st round - there should have been some point deductions, that was horrible.

I think had there been another ref in there then Whyte would have got DQ'd - I'm glad we had a conclusive finish in this one and not Joshua vs Whyte 2 - unfinished business.... although part of me still thinks the DQ would have been the right call. There were people calling for the Tyson vs Savarese fight to be reversed after Tyson continued the fight after it being stopped - what Whyte in retaliation wasn't good for the sport, but thankfully we ended up with a good fight so that will largely be forgotten.

I am sure Froch vs Groves 1 was in Foster's thoughts when he decided to act as he did. He didn't want to get the terrible treatment in his most high profile outing since Froch vs Groves 1.

Joshua should have been disqualified if someone had to be disqualified.

How many times is he going to get away with hitting his opponent after the bell?

In the interview afterwards he said it was the ref's job to stop him punching after the bell, not his. The guy is a bloody loon.

You cannot DQ a fighter on past indiscretions! And you shouldn't DQ a fighter on 1 punch that was fractionally late at the end of the opener.

However a point deduction after the second time he did this was needed IMO.