By Dallan o’ Donnell: In the wake of Carl Froch’s fantastic stoppage victory over Lucian Bute last weekend there have been some Bute fans saying Froch should have been disqualified. I have been shocked at the sheer number of people saying he should have lost the fight by disqualification including some miss-informed writers.
Granted it did look strange and suspicious that Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn ran into the ring as the referee was counting Bute out but look back over the video evidence! The referee clearly made a hand gesture that all over the boxing universe is regarded as the referee’s way of stopping the fight. He clearly waved the fight off, which, is why Eddie jumped into the ring. Why the referee then proceeded to count is beyond me as Bute was clearly in no condition to continue and we may have to put it down to indecision or just bad refereeing.
But that wasn’t the clearest piece of evidence. There is a rule in the IBF (who sanctioned the fight) which states that as soon as a fighter’s corner man steps onto the apron while the fight is in progress then that fighter is automatically disqualified. Bute’s trainer and corner men were standing on the apron whilst the referee was giving a needless count BEFORE Eddie Hearn jumped into the ring and hoisted Froch up in his arms. So if anyone should be disqualified it is not Froch but Bute, according to the rules at least. But surely even the most casual boxing fan can put the pieces together and see that even Bute’s corner thought the referee waved the fight off or that they wanted to stop the fight themselves.
People need to give Carl Froch and Matchroom sport some credit. Carl fought a great fight and brought the world title back to Britain. Matchroom put on a great show and showcased what is best about British boxing, not the worst and ugliest side of the sport like other promoters we know. Anyone who tries to take anything away from Froch should be ashamed of themselves.
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