howard foster, can I remind you

[jamesmcdonnell]

This was for a british title, and this also isn't amateur boxing.

Murray probably would have won, but for god's sake, he deserves a chance to stage a fightback.

I'm furious, very poor officiating.

[stujones]

Yes in a way he's prolonged Jon's career by doing that... prolonged the beatings. Thaxton won't retire like that. I can see Murray vacating and Thaxton going for the British title again.

[jBacca]

Ref's are making the headlines too much these days. Fcuking joke.

[alexpaterson]

I thought it was the right call Thaxton's legs had gone a few times all that was keeping him up was his guts and heart

[gobbles]

I thought it was the right call. He was taking a lot of solid head shots and he was falling apart, every time Murray landed his balance was going and his punches were having no affect. I didn't want to see Jon Thaxton being beaten up.

[whicker]

They need to get a balance. At least the ref should have given Thaxton a few more seconds- he wa son the ropes, for sure, and had just been whacked, but if he was still fighting back- keep it rolling!

[steve689]

After this and also Lindsay-Appleby, is Foster the new king of questionable stoppages? :P

[jBacca]

British title fight, he was still bobbing and weaving, ref jumped in to soon.

[MightyWarrior]

Yes it was blatantly premature at this level, I think most watching were left more stunned than Thaxton. Ingle was laughing and shaking his head in disbelief. Sure Thaxton was rocked a couple of times, but nowhere near badly.
Like Stu says, he'll definitely carry on now, even if Jim Rosenthal seems convinced he'll change his mind after a shower - he wont. He'll be convinced he was about to land one of those left hooks, probably.

[whicker]

After this and also Lindsay-Appleby, is Foster the new king of questionable stoppages? :P

Well, it was questionable, but not THAT questionable- I'd say a 50-50 decision- some ref's would have let it go on a little, I'd tend to lean that way (I'm not a ref, of course) but then other ref's would have stopped it too.

Not a major controversy- just debatable.

[alexpaterson]

After this and also Lindsay-Appleby, is Foster the new king of questionable stoppages? :P

Well, it was questionable, but not THAT questionable- I'd say a 50-50 decision- some ref's would have let it go on a little, I'd tend to lean that way (I'm not a ref, of course) but then other ref's would have stopped it too.

Not a major controversy- just debatable.

Agree with that

[TerribleTerry]

Compare the Thaxton stoppage to the number of shots Shane Cameron was allowed to take from a murderous puncher like David Tua this weekend.

The Murray fight should have been allowed to go on a bit for me, especially with the title on the line, but I am sure that the ref was just looking to protect the fighter's health.

[jizzle]

I've no problem with that stoppage. The result was inevitable.

[MightyWarrior]

Yep not a major blunder, but just something he should be picked up on, because a stoppage like that in say, Froch/Dirrell or Brooks/Jennings for example, will cause all sorts of controversy.
I think he reads this board...saw Marcus McDonnell on here earlier today as well.

[jamesmcdonnell]

not one of the follow up shots landed, so if he didn't stop when Thaxton was first stiffened, why stop him when he's on the ropes defending himself.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I've no problem with that stoppage. The result was inevitable.

It's very easy to say that, but Thaxton was still fighting back, who knows what might have happened. Crap stoppage.

[n1ebf]

it looked like an early one to me in real time. The emphatic way Thaxton was knocked of balance and staggered back definitely had something to do with it.

I think, as the poster said, it should have gone on solely as it was a title fight. But I don't think Foster can be blamed, his reputation is still 100% intact for me.

[fatcity69]

This was for a british title, and this also isn't amateur boxing.

Murray probably would have won, but for god's sake, he deserves a chance to stage a fightback.

I'm furious, very poor officiating.

Actually I think Howard did a very good job at protecting the house fighter. Funny how these officals 'mistakes' always seem to favour the home camps. Thaxton had a punchers chance right up to the end and so it was convinient for Murray (who seemed very worried about taking a clean shot off Thaxton) that the fight seemed to be stopped at the earliest opportunity. Stinks.

[15829]

it looked abit early from where I was sat but jono wouldn't have lasted that much longer, was speaking to him after the fight seemed really down can't see him carrying on much longer maybe a farewell in norwich

[Asterix]

It looked to me like Thaxton's eyes rolled upwards as he staggered back. :??

[fatcity69]

The ironic and in some ways worrying aspect of the way this fight ended is that I feel Thaxton is more likely to carry on now than if he had been given a fair shake at it. Especially if Murray vacates the title soon to move on to higher things.

[fatcity69]

Jim Rosentals ringside manner was very annoying. Am I the only one who found the way he talked to Thaxton to be extremely condescending. All this talk about noone wanting to see Thaxton hurt, if this was the case then why was the fight made in the first place if John was in need of such protection?. Thaxton is certainly past his best but he is still dangerous, hence the 'quick as you can' stoppage.

[fatcity69]

Someone should tell Jim that his legs arent what they used to be either.

[n1ebf]

It looked to me like Thaxton's eyes rolled upwards as he staggered back. :??

in slow motion , or with a snapshot from a camera, you could make a jab look devastating. His eyes will have rolled back, it's just normal when you get punched like that.

What did for Thaxton was the fact he was immobile, his reflexes simply could not keep him out the way of those shots, and when he got hit, his legs couldn't react fast enough to maintain his balance.

To be fair, and it's not intended as a criticism but as an observation, Thaxton should have retired by now already. Boxing was never supposed to be a 16 17 18 year career etc.. (as a fighter).

Please excuse my ignorance here.....didn't Thaxton finally win the British title, at like, the 3rd attempt?? I'm sure he did. So really, he had achieved his dream and once he lost it, at his stage of career, that should have been that imo.

[neil hibbert]

think it was a tad bit early but i really think a couple of seconds longer and it would have been a lot worse as murray is a good finisher and wouldnt have let jono out of that position