Joshua vs Klitchko stoppage?

[boxing_rocks]

Wlad was celarly hurt. Fact.
Joshua was gassed. That's another fact. He really sucks at this deparment. One of the worst I've seen in a long time.

Wlad was done at the time. But we really don't know for how long Joshua can keep up with that pace..With that really awful, miserable conditioning..

But the stoppage seems to be the right call in the end.

In the end, you seem to be contradicting yourself.

[Ricky_]

Wlad was celarly hurt. Fact.
Joshua was gassed. That's another fact. He really sucks at this deparment. One of the worst I've seen in a long time.

Wlad was done at the time. But we really don't know for how long Joshua can keep up with that pace..With that really awful, miserable conditioning..

But the stoppage seems to be the right call in the end.

Both men were hurt throughout the fight. The ref jumped in because he felt the last flurry was landing when it wasn't. At that point in the fight Wlad's best chance was regrouping then countering AJ who punches himself out very quickly.

[boxing_rocks]

Wlad was celarly hurt. Fact.
Joshua was gassed. That's another fact. He really sucks at this deparment. One of the worst I've seen in a long time.

Wlad was done at the time. But we really don't know for how long Joshua can keep up with that pace..With that really awful, miserable conditioning..

But the stoppage seems to be the right call in the end.

Both men were hurt throughout the fight. The ref jumped in because he felt the last flurry was landing when it wasn't. At that point in the fight Wlad's best chance was regrouping then countering AJ who punches himself out very quickly.

Exactly, the fact that he was defending himself effectively showed that he was regaining himself. There was no reason to stop the fight at that time unless ref thought that something was landing.

[manchester-mexican]

Good stoppage imo, took a lot heavy shots n tho ppl might think AJ could've gassed again ala 5th, WK wasn't exactly fresh himself, ref got it spot on for me

[punchoutsb]

It depends on what shoes you're wearing.

If you are a fan wanting to watch the fight to it's absolute very end, then yes it was a quick stoppage. Wlad was hurt, but AJ missed almost every follow up shot when Wlad was on the ropes and you could see the force lessening with every punch he threw. Add to that that there were 30 seconds left and you've got yourself a quick stoppage. From that perspective that 12th round had the potential to be the best round in decades.

But if you're a fan that enjoys boxing and also truly cares for the the fighters, the stoppage was good. Any time a fighter is hurt there is potential for great injury. Wlad might just be the best human being to ever lace up the gloves and no one wants to see him seriously hurt. 35 seconds isn't a long time but given his advanced age and the fact that he was already hurt all it would take is one punch to cause irreversible damage. The referees job is to enforce the rules but he also has to protect the fighter.

I really wonder how that 12th round would've gone, and I do believe that Wlad would have survived the remaining 35 seconds. But despite that, I am very happy the ref stopped the fight. He made the right call and put the fighters health at the forefront which is 100% ALWAYS the right call to make.

[lillywhite14]

Good stoppage. Dropped heavily and on the ropes not throwing back whilst Joshua is unloading. Why risk just one more shot landing because a few viewers want to see an unconscious body?

[Kalan]

Wlad went down 2 times and was hurt. Ref protected bim from worse damage.

Yes, Joshua would have likely finished Wlad anyway, but the ref selected a weird time for stoppage. At that time, Wlad showed ability to protect himself just fine. No damage was being inflicted. The ref should have waited for at least one decent punch to land.

Klitschko was down 3 X in the fight and twice in the first 2 minutes of round 11... He wasn't punching back and was taking a bad beating... He was gone.

[boxing_rocks]

Wlad went down 2 times and was hurt. Ref protected bim from worse damage.

Yes, Joshua would have likely finished Wlad anyway, but the ref selected a weird time for stoppage. At that time, Wlad showed ability to protect himself just fine. No damage was being inflicted. The ref should have waited for at least one decent punch to land.

Klitschko was down 3 X in the fight and twice in the first 2 minutes of round 11... He wasn't punching back and was taking a bad beating... He was gone.

No, Wlad wasn't taking ANY beating at the time, and Joshua was about to gas out.

[Old Jack J]

Wlad might have survived it. Joshua might have landed another big one. We don't know.

The reason I thought the stoppage was correct was because he had already suffered two heavy knockdown in the previous 60 seconds or so. He was clearly unsteady on his feet and was a little confused at where he was and what was happening around him (watch the way he tries to walk past the ref and stand in front of Joshua after the 2nd knockdown in the round, he knows he should stand in front of the ref to be assessed). The last thing I want to see is a boxer take that one last punch which could potentially be permanently damaging when common sense says he has had enough.

Enough was enough. Could be a big gamble letting it go on to see if Joshua's punches continued to hit gloves.

[boxing_rocks]

You know, this is boxing, i.e. hurting business. If it wasn't clear that Wlad kept getting hurt and couldn't survive, the fight needed to continue.

Otherwise, if we want boxers be safer, we should have 3 2-minute rounds.

[Ossyrules]

You know, this is boxing, i.e. hurting business. If it wasn't clear that Wlad kept getting hurt and couldn't survive, the fight needed to continue.

Otherwise, if we want boxers be safer, we should have 3 2-minute rounds.

Can only assume you've never had a fight in your life from this

The ref gave Wlad every chance. After he gets him to walk forward and hold his hands up, Wlad gets 2 goes each time to convince the ref.

This isn't an inconclusive end. Good call from the ref

[boxing_rocks]

Then the ref had to stop after the second KD. There was absolutely no reason to stop when he did that.

[Ossyrules]

Then the ref had to stop after the second KD. There was absolutely no reason to stop when he did that.

The ref gave the legend champion every opportunity that he deserved. Then Joshua pours it on straight away and he says enough.

No issues

[davie]

.
.

In my own opinion the championship fight should not be decided by the referee.

Then more people would get seriously hurt or die

Don't get into regulating blood sports please

[boxing_rocks]

No he didn't. Wlad was doing just fine at the time and deserved an opportunity to continue.

[Ossyrules]

No he didn't. Wlad was doing just fine at the time and deserved an opportunity to continue.

Are you a fury fan by chance?

Wlad clearly weren't fine. we won't agree here.

[boxing_rocks]

I am not a fan of any HW. Wlad was doing better at the time of stoppage than right after the count and nothing was landing on him, so there was no reason to stop.

[Covfefe]

I am not a fan of any HW. Wlad was doing better at the time of stoppage than right after the count and nothing was landing on him, so there was no reason to stop.

Go back and watch the footage. Wladimir didn't protest the stoppage. Whatever you think is irellevent.

[boxing_rocks]

I am not a fan of any HW. Wlad was doing better at the time of stoppage than right after the count and nothing was landing on him, so there was no reason to stop.

Go back and watch the footage. Wladimir didn't protest the stoppage. Whatever you think is irellevent.

Wlad is not of a protesting kind. Also, when did protesting ever help? Wlad is a smart guy to know that.

[Covfefe]

I am not a fan of any HW. Wlad was doing better at the time of stoppage than right after the count and nothing was landing on him, so there was no reason to stop.

Go back and watch the footage. Wladimir didn't protest the stoppage. Whatever you think is irellevent.

Wlad is not of a protesting kind. Also, when did protesting ever help? Wlad is a smart guy to know that.

Nonsense, it's a natural reaction when you feel unjustly done by. He was clearly finished.

[boxing_rocks]

Go back and watch the footage. Wladimir didn't protest the stoppage. Whatever you think is irellevent.

Wlad is not of a protesting kind. Also, when did protesting ever help? Wlad is a smart guy to know that.

Nonsense, it's a natural reaction when you feel unjustly done by. He was clearly finished.

Only animals always follow their natural reaction. Have you seen Wlad ever protest?

Correction: even trained animals can overcome their natural reactions.

[Covfefe]

Wlad is not of a protesting kind. Also, when did protesting ever help? Wlad is a smart guy to know that.

Nonsense, it's a natural reaction when you feel unjustly done by. He was clearly finished.

Only animals always follow their natural reaction. Have you seen Wlad ever protest?

Beyond idiotic.

I can't think of a specific incident but I guarantee you he has. He is a boxer, and he's no different than any other. He didn't offer protest because like in all his stoppage losses he was finished.

[boxing_rocks]

Nonsense, it's a natural reaction when you feel unjustly done by. He was clearly finished.

Only animals always follow their natural reaction. Have you seen Wlad ever protest?

Beyond idiotic.

I can't think of a specific incident but I guarantee you he has. He is a boxer, and he's no different than any other. He didn't offer protest because like in all his stoppage losses he was finished.

So, you are saying that Wlad is no different than let's say Broner ? LOL

[Covfefe]

Only animals always follow their natural reaction. Have you seen Wlad ever protest?

Beyond idiotic.

I can't think of a specific incident but I guarantee you he has. He is a boxer, and he's no different than any other. He didn't offer protest because like in all his stoppage losses he was finished.

So, you are saying that Wlad is no different than let's say Broner ? LOL

What does Broner have to do with anything. I'm saying inside the ring when it comes to the referee Wladimir is no different from any fighter and will protest and complain like all of the others. I've never seen Broner be particularly bad for that either.

[candyslim]

My two immediate reactions were "the stoppage was possibly a little premature" and "thank fork he's stopped it".

Now I'm rationalising it with " better a second too early ..." but I'm very much AJ's man and wanting it to be a good stoppage so maybe my initial reaction is telling.