Joshua vs Takam early stoppage?

[amwsnw]

It was an early stoppage. Whilst was pretty clear AJ was on his way to a points win the chance of victory shouldn't be taken away from Takam unless he was hurt and couldn't defend himself. Strange finish.

[wouter]

poll is funny because if u just read the thread title ur gonna probably vote yes it was early, but then with way actual poll is worded yes means you think it was fine stoppage

That’s exactly what happened to me....

[RScarf1]

The stoppage reminded me of Zsolt Erdei in Germany. If the home favorite lands a few consecutive punches, the ref will stop the fight even if the boxer is still standing and capable of fighting.

[greg]

..the thread title should be re-phrased...Takam was still pretty much alive and kicking at the time of stoppage which I agree was premature...

[candyslim]

I thought the stoppage was too early although Takam was just starting to look like Joshua's punches were starting to really hurt him, which they hadn't before other than the one that dropped him.

As a Joshua fan I was quite concerned by how many punches AJ was allowing Takam to land, and by the way he was blowing hard just before the stoppage. I thought Takam was in no immediate danger and should have been allowed to continue, but I don't think there was anything 'political' about it. You know how most refs look at it: Better a stoppage that is a few seconds too early than one that is a few seconds too late, and that's a principle I can't argue with.

Massive respect to Carlos Takam. The casuals in work were unimpressed by the idea of Pulev (not that they had any idea who he is, mind) and were very dismissive of him being replaced by a substitute. I felt compelled to stick up for Takam telling them he was no pushover and would give a good account of himself. I feel vindicated now.

I also predicted on here that the height disparity would make Takam's head a danger. So it proved not that any great insight was required to work that one out

[Ossyrules]

Too early imo. The refs in England are a bit quick to “protect” a fighter in trouble. I think American refs typically let it run a little.

Joshua was in total control of the fight, but it weren’t the most impressive performance imo. Takam is the second best opponent he’s fought though, but it lacked a bit of creativity and dare I say it, speed. Don’t want to make a big deal of the weight, but speed is as important as the power

[Heretic]

poll is funny because if u just read the thread title ur gonna probably vote yes it was early, but then with way actual poll is worded yes means you think it was fine stoppage

Yeah my bad...

Note to self... Don't try to create poll at 3 AM after dozen of beers

Takam was still protecting himself and there wasn't even knock down before the stoppage. Way too early for my liking.

Takam once again proves he easily belongs in the top 10 of the division.

[caldo2025]

Takam hadn't even come close to winning any of the rounds that I could see. The ringside doctor was called upon to examine the cuts on 3 different occasions I think. AJ had just landed his best exchanges of a lopsided fight to a boxer with 2 nasty gashes over both eyes. I have no problem with the stoppage. Takam COULD have landed the luckiest punch in years to win the fight late but I didn't see AJ even phased by any of Takam's telegraphed punches. I think the ref did a fantastic job to avoid one boxer taking unnecessary punishment. At this weight, the damage with a flush punch is a lot more dangerous than at other weights. I commend the ref for being smart and to hell with the blood hungry fans that just wanted to see AJ score a more definitive KO.

[caldo2025]

Btw, why the heck are people saying that AJ looked winded or out of shape in this fight? I thought that he looked as fresh in that last round than he did in the first. The combinations that he was throwing in the last round were his very best of the fight so i think people are way off in criticizing AJ for his performance late and conditioning in this one.

[Tony1244]

Bad stoppage. One of the worst I've seen in a long time.

[candyslim]

Btw, why the heck are people saying that AJ looked winded or out of shape in this fight? I thought that he looked as fresh in that last round than he did in the first. The combinations that he was throwing in the last round were his very best of the fight so i think people are way off in criticizing AJ for his performance late and conditioning in this one.

I thought he was looking a bit short of breath but if a 235lb man has landed his head with some force flush on your hooter I guess it's going to affect your breathing. This is another unpleasant experience that Joshua has coped with very well.

[caldo2025]

Btw, why the heck are people saying that AJ looked winded or out of shape in this fight? I thought that he looked as fresh in that last round than he did in the first. The combinations that he was throwing in the last round were his very best of the fight so i think people are way off in criticizing AJ for his performance late and conditioning in this one.

I thought he was looking a bit short of breath but if a 235lb man has landed his head with some force flush on your hooter I guess it's going to affect your breathing. This is another unpleasant experience that Joshua has coped with very well.

That's what I mean. That happened in what, the 2nd round? He got pissed right after and I think thats when he opened the cut on Takam's right eye by throwing some bombs because he was so mad. I loved that he got angry after that head butt and just came out crackin'. AJ's got all the tools but he's just raw right now.

[candyslim]

Fair comment. I like the fact that he's very respectful except toward those who don't show him the same courtesy, doesn't feel the need to boast about his achievements, believing walking the walk is way more important than talking the talk. He's a genuinely nice guy but in the ring he's a nasty bastard, just the way it should be. Especially when you head-butt him hard on the shnoz

[sibbo]

The posts about Britain cards being corrupt are becoming tiresome and over the top, but it's fair to say that incompetence by British refs is an issue. Over the years the "British stoppage" has caused much controversy, and spoiled many a good fight, both internationally and domestically, and the same names always seem to crop up.... As a Brit I'm fine with the idea of a neutral ref if it eases fears of bias among overseas fighters.

[Rob3_142]

I think overall people are letting their hearts rule there head, and leading with outrage instead of perspective. Personally, I think it should have been allowed to go on longer, at least until Takam was no longer able to protect himself, which at the time he seemed still very much in control. That being said, Takam had been caught by a flurry of 5-6 punches and had sustained a high degree of cosmetic damage throughout the fight. I've noticed recently that more and more fights are being stopped on the short side, and I don't know if this is a result of the referee's being asked by the commission to take more responsibility for fighter safety, especially in light of recent serious injuries / deaths.

I do feel quite sorry for Takam. He was losing this fight comfortably, but he should have been allowed to see it through to 12 if he could. He recovered very well from a seriously deep cut, and his corner done some good work to keep him going. I also had him down as a draw against Parker, and was a little upset by a UD.

As far as Joshua's performance goes, I think to say it was 'flat' or poor by any stretch was also very unfair. His camp was geared to fight Pulev, as would have been the case with his sparring partners etc. His opponent was changed 12 days before. I think back to the Parker - Cojanu fight which was met by very similar circumstances. We all remember how that fight ended - a drab one sided points victory. Joshua was expected to take a live, world level fighter who was tough as old boots and awkward at short notice, and he busted him up well and truly. Definite solid 8/10 for me.

[Ilya Muromets]

Boxing is crooked everyplace, tho Las Vegas is, of course, the worst, by far. Pulev - rated by BoxRec 4th in the world vs. Takam who is 19th - would have beat Joshua, just as I said he would, tho the British ref might have dived in to save him.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

No wonder Wilder wants no part of fighting in the UK the ref was looking for an excuse the stop the fight from the time Takam got cut Joshua got axposed toningt he aint No A side to any negotiation with Wilder

Go to bed, Clive. No one got "axposed toningt" and AJ is still the A side against any HW in the world.

How when I just realised Joshua is a fraud

[punchoutsb]

No wonder Wilder wants no part of fighting in the UK the ref was looking for an excuse the stop the fight from the time Takam got cut Joshua got axposed toningt he aint No A side to any negotiation with Wilder

Go to bed, Clive. No one got "axposed toningt" and AJ is still the A side against any HW in the world.

How when I just realised Joshua is a fraud

Your sentences are never quite fully formed, much like your thoughts.

[Kalan]

Btw, why the heck are people saying that AJ looked winded or out of shape in this fight? I thought that he looked as fresh in that last round than he did in the first. The combinations that he was throwing in the last round were his very best of the fight so i think people are way off in criticizing AJ for his performance late and conditioning in this one.

I thought he was looking a bit short of breath but if a 235lb man has landed his head with some force flush on your hooter I guess it's going to affect your breathing. This is another unpleasant experience that Joshua has coped with very well.

He never looked short of breath.. They both got tired because it was a hard fought fight like the Klitschko fight.. Joshua definitely got head butted in the face big time.. Takam was going for a cut and facial damage if he could inflict it.. Joshua never looked as though he had his nose broken like Lennox Lewis did on a couple occasions.. AJ tooks some very heavy head butts smack in the face and that can really smash your nose up like it did Mikey Garcia when he fought Salido.. Garcia is a master boxer and you can't avoid a slick head no matter how good you a are..

Joshua ruled with hard combinations and and uppercuts.. His defense was very strong and relaxed.. He didn't get busted up or swollen up.. The referee robbed him of a real KO.. AJ was coming on very strong at the finish was was going to get a legitimate stoppage in another 2 or 3 minutes of action.. This was like Froch-Groves 1 -- just a little premature.. Takam was gassing ... and ready to be run over and taken out.

[jamamb]

takam had just had his best round. the last few had been his best of the fight. it wasnt a slide down for him him.

[Badhusker]

How the majority of folks here cannot see the fight was stopped prematurely baffles me. It was obvious it was stopped too early.

[Ossyrules]

No wonder Wilder wants no part of fighting in the UK the ref was looking for an excuse the stop the fight from the time Takam got cut Joshua got axposed toningt he aint No A side to any negotiation with Wilder

Go to bed, Clive. No one got "axposed toningt" and AJ is still the A side against any HW in the world.

How when I just realised Joshua is a fraud

Comedy gold from Clive considering what America has served up recently

[Ossyrules]

How the majority of folks here cannot see the fight was stopped prematurely baffles me. It was obvious it was stopped too early.

I know we disagree a lot, but it clearly was a premature stoppage. The refs in England can be too quick to jump in

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Go to bed, Clive. No one got "axposed toningt" and AJ is still the A side against any HW in the world.

How when I just realised Joshua is a fraud

Comedy gold from Clive considering what America has served up recently

So the UK follows