By Gerardo Granados: It was reported on ESPN Boxing that the State of Virginia found no one responsible for negligence at the Prichard Colon vs. Terrell Williams fight that took place last October at the EagleBank Arena, in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. It’s odd that his corner cut Colon´s gloves off thinking the fight had ended. Prichard´s injury might have been as tragic as it was unavoidable and it would have been much worse if he had continued fighting to the next round.
A friend of mine asked me why no one was held responsible. I replied to him “are you responsible?”
Yesterday marked the 26 anniversary of a fight for the ages between Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor. Until today, many fight fans criticize referee Richard Steele for stopping the fight with 2 seconds left. Taylor was knocked out on his feet and was holding himself up grabbing the ropes, he never answer to the referee and also didn’t pose himself ready to continue, didn’t walked to the referee and offered him his gloves.
Julio Cesar Chavez went on to celebrate after that epic battle. Meldrick Taylor spent the night in the Hospital, where it was reported that Taylor suffered a facial fracture, his face was totally swollen, that he had lost two pints of blood and was urinating pure blood. I will quote BOXREC site: Dr. Flip Homansky, who examined Taylor after the fight, said, “Meldrick suffered a facial fracture, he was urinating pure blood, his face was grotesquely swollen…this was a kid who was truly beaten up to the face, the body, and the brain.”
I have always wondered why is it that some fight fans criticize referee Richard Steele but those same fans have never criticized trainer Lou Duva for have urged Meldrick Taylor to win the last round, or why Duva didn’t stop the beating one round earlier. The referee must stop the fight when he thinks the boxer has had enough, period.
A fighter corner must know when to throw the towel and stop the fight to protect his man. The ringside doctor must pay close attention to the fight and evaluate if it is necessary to stop the contest. But this is not math and it all is based on personal appreciation, so to me maybe referee Richard Steele should have stopped the fight on the eleventh round on advice from the ring doctor, but instead he let him continue up to a point where Taylor was clearly hurt.
There are times when it is evident a fighter has taken a lot of punishment and also that he doesn’t have the tools to come back or land a lucky punch to win. When Antonio Margarito took the severe beating from Manny Pacquiao he ended up with a busted eye. That injury might have shortened his boxing career.
Back in September of 1991 the arrogant elegance of the WBO super middleweight Champion Chris Eubank rematch Michael Watson after his first bout ended in a controversial decision. Truth is it was a robbery. At the rematch, Watson was ahead on the scorecards and knocked down Eubank on the 11 round. Chris got back up then walked towards Watson and connected a solid right uppercut followed by a left that put Watson on the canvas. If you don’t know the story behind this fight then you should search for it.
Why did Watson´s corner let him out for the final round? They wanted to win but they were not able to notice his fighter was knocked out on his feet.
Ladies and gentlemen this is prizefighting. As you already know it is dangerous and the fighters are alone inside the ring and will be alone when they retire. That is why it is so important to reduce as possible any unnecessary risks. I can’t recall who said “it is better an early stoppage than a punch too late”.
My friend thinks that he is not responsible, but do you agree?
Comments are closed.