BoxRec

I can totally understand the guilt that some fans feel when something like this happens.

I think an earlier stoppage would have been justified, but always would have been met with 'the champion should be given the benefit of the doubt' etc. A hard case like Blackwell won't stop, which makes it a very difficult call for Lockett. Interesting point someone made earlier about the pressure/influence of the fanatical support from Billy Joe Saunders and Fury etc, but I don't think Lockett would have been swayed by it.

This is easy for anyone to say in retrospect, but I think Blackwell should have been pulled by his corner before the start of round ten. The 'get to him late' plan was too risky by this stage and he hadn't been able to hurt Eubank up to this point, merely halt his combos. Yes, Eubanks energy levels and punch power were dipping, but Blackwell's were a lot lower, and he'd taken a ridiculous amount of uppercuts.

Billy Joe Saunders' behaviour and commentary was thoroughly childish throughout. They really need to stop putting boxers on the commentary team, it's getting stupid now. The old saying "it's better to remain silent and have people wonder whether you're an idiot or not, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" springs to mind. This was national telly, ffs.

Blackwell is a real champion. Thoughts are with him.

Thankfully it was stopped when it was. Doesn't bear thinking about what would have happened if the ref allowed it to go on.

I was watching the fight thinking i'm so glad Victor Loughlin is reffing this as not once did Blackwell seem to sag or drop his hands but I know ref's that would've stopped that. My opinion doesn't change due to Blackwell's injuries. Blackwell is a tough tough man and my thoughts are with him and his family, he proved beyond doubt he's a british level fighter, just came up against a world class fighter on the night.

Supremo wrote:How many people on here were calling for a stoppage or the towel to be thrown in whilst watching it? Probably none of us. So how anyone can then criticise the corner or referee I don't understand! Hindsight is 20/20.

How many people here are in change of fighters health? It should have been clear for the trainer that Blackwell was outmatched and was not going to win. He was getting punished unnecessarily. There is a strong argument that the trainer should have pulled him off.

Didn't end up watching the fight but gutted to hear what's happened to Blackwell and hope he recovers well.

Always a tough call in a title fight with experienced fighters but I seem to remember lockett not pulling another fighter out in the recent past. Even harder when you do back the fitness of your man and question your opponents

Dan Dares wrote:I can totally understand the guilt that some fans feel when something like this happens.

I think an earlier stoppage would have been justified, but always would have been met with 'the champion should be given the benefit of the doubt' etc. A hard case like Blackwell won't stop, which makes it a very difficult call for Lockett. Interesting point someone made earlier about the pressure/influence of the fanatical support from Billy Joe Saunders and Fury etc, but I don't think Lockett would have been swayed by it.

This is easy for anyone to say in retrospect, but I think Blackwell should have been pulled by his corner before the start of round ten. The 'get to him late' plan was too risky by this stage and he hadn't been able to hurt Eubank up to this point, merely halt his combos. Yes, Eubanks energy levels and punch power were dipping, but Blackwell's were a lot lower, and he'd taken a ridiculous amount of uppercuts.

Billy Joe Saunders' behaviour and commentary was thoroughly childish throughout. They really need to stop putting boxers on the commentary team, it's getting stupid now. The old saying "it's better to remain silent and have people wonder whether you're an idiot or not, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt" springs to mind. This was national telly, ffs.

Blackwell is a real champion. Thoughts are with him.

Saunders contradicts himself time and again.

Tarkus wrote:

Supremo wrote:How many people on here were calling for a stoppage or the towel to be thrown in whilst watching it? Probably none of us. So how anyone can then criticise the corner or referee I don't understand! Hindsight is 20/20.

How many people here are in change of fighters health? It should have been clear for the trainer that Blackwell was outmatched and was not going to win. He was getting punished unnecessarily. There is a strong argument that the trainer should have pulled him off.

I think it was round 8 that i said it should be stopped, it just seemed too one sided. Eubank was throwing a ton of shots to little/no reply, however probably only half landed. The commentary team were killing me with how close they were making it, and then saying that Blackwell should be chasing him down when Eubank was having his rest periods!!! Poor Blackwell had just been on the receiving end of some big shots, he was feeling it more than Eubank, he was never going to then sustain his own attack!!

There were some big sustained attacks in that fight by Eubank, and i think if Blackwells legs had dipped or shaked then the ref may well have waived it off sooner.

Blackwell was an absolute rock in there, and i don't blame anyone for the fight going as long as it did due to Blackwells durability and strong legs.

End of 9 & 10. A defeated looking man who was just to brave for his own good.









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There's still a professional pride in going the distance and losing on the cards.

I just wonder if the circus at ringside with Saunders, Fury, Hennessy all getting involved affected the corner work and even the referee in deciding whether to stop it ?

SAPFO wrote:End of 9 & 10. A defeated looking man who was just to brave for his own good.









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I agree those last two rounds in the corner poor blackwell looked utterly defeated.

I genuinely thought the stoppage was the correct time.

If it wasn't for Blackwells reputation for being durable and the ringside antics of a few it may well have been stopped sooner.

Blackwell showed no signs in the corner of Lockett needing to stop it either. He has pulled people out previously who have taken less punishment.

Currently a lot of back and forth debate regarding what should have happened. If it was another British based sanctioning body then I'm sure it would overwhelmingly negative.

Great that safety standards are to such a point that Blackwell was taken as soon as there was an issue.

I agree. Stoppage was timed right. Ref knew he was done, and knew the doc would probably recommend a stoppage.

The next interval would have been interesting, as that swelling was getting worse by the second.

SAPFO wrote:I agree. Stoppage was timed right. Ref knew he was done, and knew the doc would probably recommend a stoppage.

The next interval would have been interesting, as that swelling was getting worse by the second.

It was stopped on the doctor instructions.

broomy7s wrote:I was watching the fight thinking i'm so glad Victor Loughlin is reffing this as not once did Blackwell seem to sag or drop his hands but I know ref's that would've stopped that. My opinion doesn't change due to Blackwell's injuries. Blackwell is a tough tough man and my thoughts are with him and his family, he proved beyond doubt he's a british level fighter, just came up against a world class fighter on the night.

Loughlin's been there before at least once that I'm aware of. Can't be easy to pull a man that "absolutely will not stop" to borrow a quote from Terminator, but that is the job. That is probably the principal assignment of the referee.

I followed the RBR on here, nobody was calling for the stoppage with any clear intent. Money morning quarterbacks should be spat on. Ref did nothing wrong.

Sklar wrote:I followed the RBR on here, nobody was calling for the stoppage with any clear intent. Money morning quarterbacks should be spat on. Ref did nothing wrong.

absolutely correct

rhino222 wrote:

Sklar wrote:I followed the RBR on here, nobody was calling for the stoppage with any clear intent. Money morning quarterbacks should be spat on. Ref did nothing wrong.

absolutely correct

Except I typed Money rather than Monday for some reason.

Sklar wrote:

rhino222 wrote:

Sklar wrote:I followed the RBR on here, nobody was calling for the stoppage with any clear intent. Money morning quarterbacks should be spat on. Ref did nothing wrong.

absolutely correct

Except I typed Money rather than Monday for some reason.

99% correct

Firstly i want to wish Nick Blackwell a Speedy recovery. In terms of the timing of the stoppage it is all too easy for us punters at home to say it was too early or too late. The ref and the cornermen are the only people who know both the sport and their fighter better than any of us. Something that is telling are the words used by Eubank senior in between rounds warning of serious damage, and whilst he could not have known for sure,i think his words altered the way Eubank then boxed the 9th round going mainly for the body with the occasional tap to the head. Of course some might say he should have gone for the stoppage but i do wonder if there was a fear in Eubanks mind of what might happen if he continued as he had for the previous 8 rounds.
I also want to congratulate the emergency medical teams who were at the venue. Their immediate responses have possibly saved nicks life, and i dont think that any other country comes even close when it comes to fighter safety. Then finally i want to say a word or two to all of the keyboard warriors who think they are big, clever, and amusing when wishing fighters ill when they get into the ring. Having an opinion on any fighter is of course always valid, but having a respect for these folks is far more important. This weekend has shown that boxing is a dangerous game and it can be life threatening. Remember that these boys and girls put on a show for our entertainment and they all deserve a huge thanks and massive respect for what they do.
Get well soon Nick.

dinkybob wrote:...boxing is a dangerous game and it can be life threatening.

That's the crux, right there. People who second guess are, usually, subconsciously trying to justify to themselves that it's not boxing that's dangerous but instead human error. Accept it's dangerous and that's why it's such a great sport to test yourself in and follow and stop looking for a scapegoat.

Simple really - 1 the ref wouldnt stop it cos them at ringside would have gone mad
2 Lockett should have had the sense to pull Blackwell out after the 8th. Brave cornerman is the last thing a fighter needs.

The referee and the fighters' corner have a duty of care to the boxer. THEY BOTH MESSED UP BIG TIME.

freddydoesdallas wrote:Didn't end up watching the fight but gutted to hear what's happened to Blackwell and hope he recovers well.

Always a tough call in a title fight with experienced fighters but I seem to remember lockett not pulling another fighter out in the recent past. Even harder when you do back the fitness of your man and question your opponents

Gavin Rees against Broner maybe?

Sklar wrote:I followed the RBR on here, nobody was calling for the stoppage with any clear intent. Money morning quarterbacks should be spat on. Ref did nothing wrong.

Spot on!

But for the eye closing this fight would definitely have continued, and that doesn't really bear thinking about too long.

Having said that at the time I never thought the bout should have been stopped as Blackwell always seemed to be defending himself and fighting back too. Victor Loughlin did nothing wrong for me.

I also think some of these papers trying to make a story about Eubanks Snr's comments between rounds are wide of the mark. He was trying to suggest a way of getting the opponent out of there rather than trying to show compassion in my opinion. Any suggestion that a second would suggest to a boxer to 'fight soft' is written by someone that doesn't understand boxing.
While the fight is on you fight hard to win - there is no other way.