Joshua - Let off the hook by the referee

[rhino222]

Anyone else notice that after the knockdown at the end of round one, the ref counted to 8 and then urged Joshua to walk towards him (as seems to be the norm in this day and age)

Joshua slightly staggered and my argument is that this should have been the end, If it was Dubois receiving the count and then staggering the ref would have waved it off.

Did anyone else notice it? Anyone got any footage of the first count and then Joshuas actions in relation to the referees commands?

I know if it was stopped it would have ruined the spectacle that followed but surely rules are rules. The referee didnt know there was literally a couple of seconds left in the round.

I thought the ref was very biased towards the Matchroom fighter, the crowds favourite. Warning Dubois for heads and then taking a point off him, he never once cautioned Joshua for holding.

[keithmoonhangover]

Anyone else notice that after the knockdown at the end of round one, the ref counted to 8 and then urged Joshua to walk towards him (as seems to be the norm in this day and age)

Joshua slightly staggered and my argument is that this should have been the end, If it was Dubois receiving the count and then staggering the ref would have waved it off.

Did anyone else notice it? Anyone got any footage of the first count and then Joshuas actions in relation to the referees commands?

I know if it was stopped it would have ruined the spectacle that followed but surely rules are rules. The referee didnt know there was literally a couple of seconds left in the round.

I thought the ref was very biased towards the Matchroom fighter, the crowds favourite. Warning Dubois for heads and then taking a point off him, he never once cautioned Joshua for holding.

Nope. It was early in the fight and ref did the right thing.

[rhino222]

So a stagger at 8 isnt enough to stop the fight? So why would the ref even bother to ask then if it doesnt matter. Seriously, look at the incident if you can.

[Boxerbeetle]

Yeah that definitely happened, but there was literally no way in the world Joshua would have been stopped there.

[TheLeprechaun]

Marcus McDonnell.

Not much else to be said.

[Coco]

Marcus McDonnell.

Not much else to be said.

This

[forcefraser]

That ref is always getting over involved and loves the limelight

Exaggerated arm waving and finger pointing

Jobs for the boys

[garethhop]

I'm not sure that was enough to call it off but he allowed the boxer to a) touch down with his gloves without calling a knockdown b) use a stool to get to his feet to beat a 10 count c) take punishment at the end of the 3rd that merited a stoppage d) cause absolute chaos in the 4th by again failing to call a knockdown and choosing to do it by using the signal that a fight had been called off.

Genuinely awful refereeing.

[Flump]

His corner had the stool out behind him, AJ was on his feet, the bell had sounded and the ref was never going to stop that, especially at the end of round one. Probably not in the York Hall and certainly not in Wembley Stadium.

And if he had stopped it there would have been massive controversy, and endless debate. As it was, AJ got ironed out for the count of 10, and apart from a few seconds just before he was knocked out, it was a one sided beat down. No controversy, no questions. So I'm glad he didn't stop the fight and agree with the decision.

[Twinkle Toes]

He was up at 4 on the first knockdown, he did look unsteady which is not something we haven't seen many times before with fighters. A bit of a stretch to say it should have been stopped.

The ref was poor though, he waved away the start of the count for Joshua touching down in round 2 which allowed Dubois to land a salvo of shots.

Regards Dubois getting a quick warning, he is handy with his head and his elbows, so it' right to get picked up on it early. That's the only positive I can say about that ref's perfomance.

[SeanBrennan]

I think AJ was looked after by the ref and some would have stopped it earlier. He was given every chance we can definitely say.

[joshj909]

I'm not sure that was enough to call it off but he allowed the boxer to a) touch down with his gloves without calling a knockdown b) use a stool to get to his feet to beat a 10 count c) take punishment at the end of the 3rd that merited a stoppage d) cause absolute chaos in the 4th by again failing to call a knockdown and choosing to do it by using the signal that a fight had been called off.

Genuinely awful refereeing.

You think the ref was helping him there? he took 9 flush punches after touching the mat including 3 while sat on the bottom rope.

[Kilburn]

Not that it would’ve had any bearing on the fight, but why do people keep saying Joshua used the stool to get back up from one of the knockdowns?

[Coco]

Not that it would’ve had any bearing on the fight, but why do people keep saying Joshua used the stool to get back up from one of the knockdowns?

After the knockdown at the end of the 3rd round the bell went and the stool was put in the ring.

AJ used it to help himself up

[jameswilson]

I thought his counting was slow on some of the knockdowns as well. It seemed a bit off from the count the timekeeper was making anyway.

[Kilburn]

Not that it would’ve had any bearing on the fight, but why do people keep saying Joshua used the stool to get back up from one of the knockdowns?

After the knockdown at the end of the 3rd round the bell went and the stool was put in the ring.

AJ used it to help himself up

His glove was on one of the ropes though, not on the stool.

[MasterG]

I don't think the ref helped him. While I'm not a great fan of McDonnell, he comes across like so many people with a bit of power, it goes to their heads.

I don't think that little stumble in round 1 warranted a stoppage. Now let's say that exact same stumble came in the 10th for example and AJ had been hit from pillow to post then there is a genuine argument to say the ref should have stopped it.

It's not as if AJ hasn't hit the deck before and got up ready to fight on. If on the other hand that little stumble and using the ref for a bit of support to avoid another stumble, then again maybe another argument for a stoppage.

[Ricky]

I thought his counting was slow on some of the knockdowns as well. It seemed a bit off from the count the timekeeper was making anyway.

His count seemed a little fast on the last one, I think he knew it was over and was hoping not to have to wave it if he beat the count.

[stujones]

Campest no knockdown signal I have ever seen.

[jameswilson]

Campest no knockdown signal I have ever seen.

I always found Terry O Connor's a bit flimsy and camp.

[stujones]

Campest no knockdown signal I have ever seen.

I always found Terry O Connor's a bit flimsy and camp.

Steve Smoger wins that award

[NazNaci1]

I thought his counting was slow on some of the knockdowns as well. It seemed a bit off from the count the timekeeper was making anyway.

Agreed, for all the knockdowns, bar the last one, he was going slower than the count.

I think someone had a word as on the final knockdown, he, again, was going slow but sped up to match the timekeeper.

Nothing said to Joshua about his holding and definitely looked like he as, however subtle, favouring Joshua.

Right result and the right man won. Good luck to Dan. He earned it and deserved it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight was a mess.

There was at least twice in the fight where the ref jumped in and people thought it was over. After round 1, the writing was on the wall.

AJ did do well to stay on the fight another 15 mins, but it was over for him.

Had it been anyone else, let’s see real, the fight would have been stopped in round 2.

You can’t tell me any different.

Or if it was AJ doing to Dubois what was being done to him, then ref would have stopped it.

[joshj909]

Fight was a mess.

There was at least twice in the fight where the ref jumped in and people thought it was over. After round 1, the writing was on the wall.

AJ did do well to stay on the fight another 15 mins, but it was over for him.

Had it been anyone else, let’s see real, the fight would have been stopped in round 2.

You can’t tell me any different.

Or if it was AJ doing to Dubois what was being done to him, then ref would have stopped it.

This was where the ref made the worst mistake of the fight. Joshua put two hands on the canvas to keep him up and then Dubois landed 9 more clean shots including 2-3 when Joshua was sat on the bottom rope.