BKB 2: “Action Packed!”

When the modernized concept of BKB: Bare-Knuckle Boxing was introduced in July by United States satellite television provider DirecTV, this observer had obvious concerns with regard to the fighters safety, but was at the same time intrigued and curious to see what this concept would look like in practice. A concept that involved the use of knuckle exposed Boxing gloves and a circular fighting area known simply as the “BKB pit.”

The BKB pit certainly stands apart from a traditional Boxing ring in that it measures seventeen feet in diameter and 227 square feet making it just over half the size of a traditional 20 x 20 Boxing ring with no ropes or corners. Colored lift gates that signify each fighter’s corner are used to lift and lock the fighters in the pit at the start of each round. The first BKB card provided much excitement and showed that this unique concept had potential to grow.

The second BKB card premiered on December 7th and like the first card was available via pay-per-view exclusively to subscribers of DirecTV. Following what was a successful first card of BKB Boxing, this observer was interested to see if those who promote BKB could capitalize on the momentum of the first card.

The second card which took place at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire featured a total of eight bouts with three championship fights each scheduled for seven two minute rounds in the Lightweight, Welterweight, and Middleweight divisions. The non-championship bouts on this card were each scheduled for five two minute rounds and ranged from the Lightweight division to the Heavyweight division.

As I stated following the first BKB card, the format of BKB specifically the two minute rounds, seems to ensure a quick pace. Due to the size of the BKB pit this type of format does not necessarily favor fighters who like to use a lot of movement in the fighting style. The pit however, is tailor-made for fighters who like to fight on the inside. Because of the two minute rounds fighters tend to let their hands go more quickly from the outset rather than a traditional three minute round where there can be a feeling out process early on. There is also an open scoring format in BKB where official scores are done on the traditional ten-point must system with the scores being announced to the fighters and audience in attendance after each round. From a fan’s perspective this format can be and has thus far proven to be entertaining.

As was the case in the first BKB card the effects of the punches landed was immediately noticeable due to the difference between the BKB knuckle exposed gloves as compared to a traditional Boxing glove. The BKB glove weighing between eight and ten ounces depending on the weight class in which a fight is being fought. This was a slight change from the first BKB card where gloves weighed between five and seven ounces depending on weight class. The questions and concerns that I had prior to the first BKB card with regard to the safety of the fighters were adequately answered by the New Hampshire Boxing and Wrestling Commission. In the opening bout of the second BKB card. a Lightweight bout between Raul Tovar Jr. and Augustine Mauras was stopped after three completed rounds due to cuts suffered by both fighters due to an accidental clash of heads in the first round. In addition to the damage caused by the head butt, both fighters were able to inflict damage on each other thus worsening the cuts. In what was an exciting battle Tovar earned a close technical majority decision after three rounds, essentially defeating Mauras by one point on the deciding scorecard. 

It should not be overlooked especially in light of recent tragedies that have affected the sport of Boxing that although this particular fight was exciting to watch where both fighters had their moments, when the fight should have been stopped, “it was.” All credit to the New Hampshire Commission and Referee Steve Smoger for taking appropriate action and thus ensuring that neither fighter suffered further damage.

Despite the format of BKB giving the appearance to some of a form of Boxing where the sole objective is to stand and trade, resembling more of a fight than actual Boxing, this observer respectfully disagrees. Even though the difference in length of rounds fought in BKB does seem to ensure a quick pace, this does not mean that there is not skill and intelligence involved.

Although the BKB pit seems favorable to an inside fighter’s game, a skilled Boxer can find ways to be effective. This was demonstrated at BKB 2 in a Light-Heavyweight bout between Lekan Byfield and Jason Naugler. Byfield was able to consistently beat Naugler to the punch by consistently using his jab to set off combinations and being able to use lateral movement to turn Naugler in route to a convincing five round unanimous decision. It should be noted that this fight was announced as being a Welterweight contest however, the weights of the fighters 165lbs. and 162lbs. respectfully seem more in line with Naugler’s memorable bout in the first BKB card against Teneal Goyco where the two fighters weighed in at 168lbs. and 169lbs. respectfully. 

 

It is unclear as of this writing whether or not there was a change in how weight classes in BKB are structured, but this observer believes that this was merely an error that went unnoticed. As this observer said following the first BKB card, it goes without saying that whenever there is a new concept or would be new sport put into practice that there is likely to be some confusion early on. This is not necessarily limited to strictly the first event where a new concept/sport is put into practice. In the case of BKB this observer believes that there will be further clarification on not only weight classes, but also the overall structure of the format and rules of BKB on subsequent cards. Simply put the more cards that take place, the more likely there is to be clarification and less confusion. In any event, Byfield’s performance against Naugler should be considered one of the best Boxing performances in the short history of BKB.

Byfield’s performance however, was not the only noteworthy performance that demonstrated Boxing skill at the second installment of BKB. In a fight that one might use the old adage was “fought in a phone booth”, Middleweight Don Mouton was able outwork Jesse Orta over five extremely close rounds fought almost entirely in close. What makes this particularly noteworthy is that Mouton was deducted a point at the completion of the fourth round for a low blow thrown after the bell. Despite the point deduction Mouton’s steady body attack along with scoring a knockdown of Orta in round five, earned a hard fought majority decision.

 Another good example of Boxing skill being implemented in this format was demonstrated by Welterweight Javier Garcia, who scored an impressive second round knockout over Allen Litzau to win the BKB Welterweight championship. Garcia was measured in his attack in this fight and tactically took a seemingly overmatched Litzau out.  

There was no doubt however, that the fight of the night was the bout for the BKB Middleweight championship between Eddie Caminero and longtime Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight contender David Estrada. For seven rounds Caminero and Estrada went toe to toe in an exciting battle which saw plenty of give and take between the two with Caminero earning a hard fought unanimous decision.  

An element of controversy however, would emerge in the main event of this card for the BKB Lightweight championship between Eric Fowler and Bryan Abraham. In the final minute of round three, Fowler dropped Abraham with a right hand. Seconds after Abraham arose from the knockdown Fowler closed the show by landing a vicious right hand which caused Abraham to turn his back causing Referee Dave Greenwood to stop the fight. The stoppage was met with a round of boos from the crowd in attendance. Greenwood’s stoppage however, was appropriate in that Abraham was clearly hurt and had turned his back on his way down. The fighter’s safety should always be the primary concern.

Overall I came away from this card feeling that this concept is growing and has the potential to continue to grow. Although BKB has been advertised as a would be new sport it is another form of Boxing and specifically a more modernized version of the original form of the sport. Some questions that observers may ask is whether or not bouts fought in BKB will eventually be recognized by Boxing record keepers as official professional fights or if BKB is attempting to establish itself as a league of the sport that is a separate entity, although professional fighters such as Javier Garcia, David Estrada, and Jason Gavern have all now competed in bouts under the BKB format and rules? This again will likely be answered in time as further BKB cards take place. This observer however, does wonder whether BKB will eventually be offered universally to multiple cable and satellite providers or if it will remain exclusive to DirecTV.

Following the first BKB card I commented on the position that BKB might be in and how it was not all unlike the position that the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) found itself  in the early 1990’s when it surfaced here in the United States. Unlike Mixed Martial Arts, BKB may not face as much of a struggle for acceptance in the mainstream. Although BKB is clearly still in it’s formative stages the concept does indeed have potential and I can see it growing in time. The only real questions other than whether or not BKB will eventually be recognized as a form of professional Boxing, are is there a plan going forward to stage a certain number of BKB cards per year and whether or not BKB will be able to expand its audience.

For now, the concept of BKB is making progress and this observer is intrigued to see what happens in the future. Although the concept may not be universally known and even though there may be some who do not enjoy the format or see it’s potential, it can grow. After all, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts was not universally accepted when it debuted in the United States. It simply takes time.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Stevenson And Kovalev On A Collision Course?

It has been a truly stellar year for the sport of Boxing. Among several well-matched fights that have taken place this year the spotlight has also shined on rising stars who have become major players in their respective divisions. Two such fighters who have each made a major impact in their division in 2013 are Light-Heavyweight champions Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev.

Both fighters successfully made the transition from top contenders to world champions in 2013. Stevenson, winning the WBC world title by scoring a devastating one punch knockout over longtime division cornerstone Chad Dawson in June of this year, and Kovalev scoring a knockout over previously undefeated WBO world champion Nathan Cleverly in August.

An argument could be made that Stevenson has in some ways received more attention than has Kovalev. This argument could be based on Stevenson after all winning his world title by defeating a fighter in Dawson who had just faced the legendary Bernard Hopkins in two fights. Dawson status as one of the top fighters in the Light-Heavyweight division for several years coupled with his fights against Hopkins and a brief drop down in weight to challenge undefeated Super-Middleweight champion Andre Ward, a man in the upper tier of most pound for pound debates. This certainly drew the attention of the Boxing world and thus all eyes were focused on Dawson when he got in the ring with Stevenson a fighter with a career knockout percentage of over 80%.

A very justifiable argument should be made that Adonis Stevenson became a star in the sport literally with one punch by knocking out Dawson. In his first title defense Stevenson scored a seventh round stoppage in a dominating performance against former IBF Light-Heavyweight world champion Tavoris Cloud. In addition to being former world champions of the Light-Heavyweight division, both Dawson and Cloud were able to garner attention and notoriety by facing Hopkins. Stevenson’s knockout victories immediately placed him as a likely candidate to eventually face off with Hopkins. There is little dispute that although there are five recognized world champions currently in the division, it is Hopkins who due to his legendary status one might argue is the most lucrative fighter the Light-Heavyweight division has to offer. Based on this it is not hard to understand why everyone in the division would not be looking for an opportunity to face Hopkins. One fighter who could have had an opportunity to fight the future Hall of Famer is Sergey Kovalev.

The undefeated Kovalev became the mandatory challenger for Bernard Hopkins after scoring a third round knockout over contender Cornelius White in June of this year. Kovalev however, opted to take what was seen by some to be a gamble by choosing to challenge Nathan Cleverly for the WBO title instead of facing Hopkins. It proved to be a great move for Kovalev who not only dethroned Cleverly, but also raised his name recognition value in the process. Much like Adonis Stevenson Kovalev has a high career knockout percentage of over 70%. Much like Stevenson, Kovalev has the ability to end a fight with one punch.

Although Hopkins clearly has the most marquee value of anyone in the division; the idea of a potential clash between Stevenson and Kovalev is certainly intriguing. A potential clash which may now happen in the near future as Hopkins appears to be at least for the moment entertaining, the thought of dropping down in weight back to the Middleweight division for a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather. The potential Mayweather-Hopkins fight would at least for a brief period leave the Light-Heavyweight division without it’s marquee attraction, but an opportunity for a unification bout which may ultimately determine who will face Hopkins.

The groundwork for a potential Stevenson-Kovalev battle seemed to be laid when the two world champions defended their respective titles on the same card on November 30th in Quebec City, Canada. Kovalev successfully made the first defense of his WBO title by scoring a devastating second round knockout over top contender Ismayl Sillakh. In that fight Kovalev showed his power knocking Sillakh down with a solid right hand and finished Sillakh off with a brutal combination seconds after Sillakh had gotten up from the knockdown. Kovalev’s seek and destroy mentality was on full display in this fight in that once he saw an opening he quickly took Sillakh out.

Following Kovalev’s knockout victory over Sillakh, Stevenson stopped top contender and mandatory challenger Tony Bellew in defense of his WBC title in six rounds. A fight where Stevenson consistently beat Bellew to the punch with his left hand, dropped Bellew with a left hand in round six and finished the “Game” challenger off with a brief barrage of left hands before the fight was stopped.

The performances of both Stevenson and Kovalev have surely set the stage for an intriguing battle of knockout artists if that was indeed the goal of the promoters who staged this card. There are however, other possibilities for both Stevenson and Kovalev if a fight between the two is not in their immediate futures. An obvious possibility could be that the winner of the upcoming Light-Heavyweight fight between Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute face either Stevenson or Kovalev. If the potential Stevenson-Kovalev clash is indeed next for both champions, what could result is a scenario that would ultimately be a four-man box off between Stevenson, Kovalev, Pascal, and Bute.

There is no doubt that such a scenario would generate significant attention and interest. Other possibilities that could be presented to either champion could be a potential unification clash with WBA champion Beibut Shumenov, Shumenov is scheduled to defend his world title against undefeated contender Tamas Kovacs on December 14th. Should Shumenov be successful a unification bout for either Stevenson or Kovalev could be attractive if they do not set their sights on each other. One possibility that has not been mentioned is a possible unification bout with the fifth champion of the division Blake Caparello the International Boxing Organization (IBO) champion.

Although not held in high regard by some, the IBO has risen in prominence in the last decade and in the eyes of this observer should be held in the same light along with the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. Caparello, undefeated in nineteen professional fights who is perhaps not well-known outside of his native Australia, recently captured the vacant IBO title by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over former top Super-Middleweight contender Allan Green. 

Now as a world champion Caparello would likely welcome the opportunity to face any of the other champions in the division not only to gain more recognition on the world stage of the sport, but also establish credibility among those who may not give him the recognition of a champion. Whether or not Stevenson or Kovalev would be open to facing Caparello at this stage of their respective careers is a question that only they can answer.

An element that should also be taken into consideration is the current political landscape that has dominated much of what has transpired in the sport in recent times. Rival networks and rival promoters at a standoff although all looking to put on the best fights possible, in actuality create almost insurmountable obstacles.  For those whose opinions really matter, the Boxing fans, once again are left out of the equation.

 In terms of fights that look like they might be a solid pay-per-view draw a fight between Stevenson and Kovalev certainly looks as though it would fit the criteria of a fight that Boxing fans worldwide would pay to see. As of this writing there is no foreseeable “Business Roadblocks” that would prevent this fight from happening. 

From a business standpoint it is an interesting dilemma for a promoter or a network to face. On one hand you have two knockout artists, both with exciting styles, each considered rising stars. An Interesting question that will face promoters and a network will be whether or not to put this fight together as soon as possible and assuming that the goal would be to sell this fight as a pay-per-view event to Boxing fans, with the hope of solid returns in terms of pay-per-view revenue. On the other hand, they could continue to grow interest in this fight by having the two fighters face off against top contenders and maybe even the other world champions in the division possibly on the same cards so that a potential pay-per-view clash would be an even bigger draw. 

No matter what happens one thing that is certainly clear is the Light-Heavyweight division in recent times has provided excitement and generated interest. Fighters like Stevenson and Kovalev could eventually be viewed as the cornerstones of what could be a great era for the division. 

Given the exciting styles and punching power of both fighters an eventual pay-per-view showdown is indeed possible and makes sense as a main event of a pay-per-view card. There are only two questions in this observer’s mind. Is it the right place at the right time under the right circumstances for the fight to happen? Will the current political landscape in the sport of Boxing stand in the way of not only this fight, but rather any of the potential bouts that could take place in the division?

Personally I believe that championships should be unified so in actuality there would be simply “One Undisputed World Champion.”  After all, we live in “One World!”

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

Is Mosley Done After Loss To Mundine?

The Jr. Middleweight bout between former five-time world champion Shane Mosley and former two-division world champion Anthony Mundine seemed to be the definition of a crossroads fight. Mosley, who returned to the ring earlier this year following a brief retirement to defeat top Welterweight contender Pablo Cesar Cano was one might argue attempting to reenter the mix in either the 147lb. Welterweight or 154lb. Jr. Middleweight divisions where he has previously held world titles throughout his career.

The choice to face Mundine however, one might say was a curious choice. After all Mosley although previously a world champion at 154lbs. has had sporadic success in that weight class having a record of 4-3-1, with one no contest as a Jr. Middleweight. On this basis one could have made a justifiable argument that Mosley would be an underdog against Mundine, a man who has previously held titles in both the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions and who is naturally bigger than Mosley.

Mundine however, one might argue was also coming into this fight with something to prove having lost a lopsided unanimous decision in his rematch with former IBF Middleweight world champion Daniel Geale in January. Despite being one of Australian Boxing’s top marquee draws for many years, Mundine was still looking for a win over a global superstar of the sport and more specifically mainstream respect particularly in America.

The bout which was originally scheduled to take place on October 23rd in Australia however, almost did not take place. After a dispute over money between Mosley and promoter Vlad Warton, the fight was cancelled when Mosley subsequently pulled out a day before it was to take place. After much criticism of the promoter, and with the bout appearing like it would not take place it was rescheduled for November 27th, this time under a different promoter Khoder Nasser who was able to get the dispute resolved with Mosley being paid his purse for the fight up front.

When the two fighters finally got in the ring at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia on November 27th the fight resulted in what in some ways could be validation for one fighter, while perhaps signifying the end of the road for the other. Mundine was able to establish the pace of the fight by throwing a crisp jab and mixing in combinations. Mosley could not seem to get into a consistent rhythm and although he had sporadic success landing occasional body shots and right hands to the head, he seemed tentative and did not let his hands go with consistency.

Mosley was able to briefly stun Mundine with a solid right hand in round three, but Mundine was able to quickly recover and continue to dictate the action. Mosley would stun Mundine again with another right hand in round four. Seconds later Mundine would answer with his own right hand that was more effective and seemed to have Mosley hurt. Mosley would stumble to the canvas as he attempted to clinch with Mundine, but it was not ruled a knockdown by Referee Raul Caiz, Sr.  Mundine would continue to control the action for the remainder the fight.

The end of the fight would come at the end of round six when Mosley was unable to continue citing a back injury. Although the conclusion of this fight did not provide much excitement, the victory for Anthony Mundine is likely to serve as a catalyst to secure more lucrative opportunities against American opponents. Although Mundine has publicly called out Floyd Mayweather in the past and even though the victory over Mosley will now give him more notoriety, it appears unlikely to this observer that the thirty eight-year old will be able to secure that fight at least in the near future. If however, Mundine were to face another marquee opponent in the Jr. Middleweight division and perhaps if that fight were to take place in the United States it may go a long way toward a potential fight with Mayweather down the line.

It would be interesting to see if promoters in Australia were to attempt lure Mayweather to fight Mundine in the country. Although the idea seems unlikely there is no doubt that a fighter of Mayweather’s stature would surely provide an economic boost anywhere he chooses to fight.

As for the forty-two year old Shane Mosley, this loss appears at least in this observer’s eyes to be the end of a great career. Even though Mosley as a fighter has seemed to be in decline in the last several years, his status as a first ballot Hall of Famer is certainly secure. Throughout his illustrious career Mosley has won five world titles in three different weight divisions, including eight successful title defenses as a World Lightweight champion. An argument could very well be made that when the topic regarding the greatest Lightweights of all-time is discussed that Mosley will be high on the list. Mosley has always given his best every time he steps into a ring and has been an ambassador for the sport. The opinion of some could be that Mosley chose not to continue with the fight perhaps seeing that the fight was starting to get away from him in terms of the scorecards. This observer disagrees with such an opinion.

Shane Mosley had never been stopped previously in his career and has never been a fighter to make excuses. Mosley stated after the fight that he had a back spasm during the fight and that he could not move. It is unclear to tell when exactly the injury to Mosley took place. It could very well have taken place after he was hurt in the fourth round when Mosley stumbled to the canvas after attempting to clinch Mundine. Mosley appeared to go down awkwardly and that may have caused the injury.

Mosley’s legacy will not be damaged by this loss to Anthony Mundine and if this is indeed the end for him as a fighter he has nothing to be ashamed of.   Shane, maybe it’s time…

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

A Look At The Froch-Groves Controversy

The 168lb. Super-Middleweight division one might argue has seen a global surge in popularity since the groundbreaking Super-Six World Boxing Classic tournament that ran its course from 2009 through 2011. Along with showcasing much of the division’s top fighters, the tournament also ultimately established eventual tournament winner Andre Ward as the top fighter in the division. An argument can be made however, that if Ward is considered the number one fighter in the division, then Carl Froch the tournament runner-up and three-time world champion of the Super-Middleweight division is certainly 1-A.

Since losing a close and competitive fight in the tournament finals to Ward in December of 2011 Froch has gone on to make a very good argument for himself as being the number two or 1-A fighter in the division behind Ward. Froch regained a portion of the Super- Middleweight title in his first fight following the completion of the Super-Six by destroying previously undefeated longtime IBF champion Lucian Bute in May of last year. There was an opinion going into that fight that Froch was an underdog. The basis of this was that Bute had successfully defended his version of the Super-Middleweight world championship nine times and with the exception of his first fight with Librado Andrade had not been really in danger of being dethroned. Froch however, would dispose of Bute in devastating fashion stopping the champion in five rounds. It was clear that Froch was underestimated by some.

Following his knockout of Bute, Froch successfully defended his title two times including a twelve round unanimous decision over former Super-Middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler in May of this year, avenging his first career loss which took place during the course of the Super-Six in April 2010. The impressive performance in the rematch against Kessler set up an intriguing bout between Froch and undefeated top contender George Groves that took place on November 23rd in Manchester, England.

Groves, undefeated in nineteen professional fights, with fifteen knockouts going into the fight with Froch had previously won both the British and Commonwealth Super- Middleweight titles in his career including a dominant performance in defense of his Commonwealth title over former IBF Light-Heavyweight world champion and former Froch opponent Glen Johnson in December of last year. Although some believed that the experience of the thirty-six year old Froch might be a crucial factor as this fight approached, there was no disputing that the twenty-five year-old Groves deserved his opportunity at the world title in what was the first world championship fight of his career.

Heading into this fight I thought based on the crowd pleasing styles of the two fighters that there was a good chance that there would be fireworks in this fight. It did not take long once the fight got underway for fireworks to materialize. Groves dropped the champion with a solid right hand in the first round. It was only the second time in Froch’s career that he was knocked down, the first being in his fight with Jermain Taylor in 2009. It was clear that Groves had the edge in terms of hand speed. 

Although appearing to be clearly hurt, Froch was able to survive the first round. It seemed that Groves could not miss Froch with his right hand. It was not just the hand speed of the challenger, but also the timing of his offense and lateral movement that was giving Froch trouble. Groves was able to win the early rounds by being the effective aggressor and getting his punches off first. The knockdown in the first round and Groves’ overall effectiveness appeared to shake the champion’s confidence.

Some of the questions that are bound to be asked when a fighter challenges for a world title for the first time are can they handle the magnitude of the event? Will they freeze? Clearly George Groves did not freeze and was not overwhelmed by the event. What was impressive was not only how Groves was able to bring the fight to the champion, but the concentrated tactical way in which he approached Froch.

In the fifth round Froch began to open up more and appeared to gain some ground in this observer’s eyes. Although both fighters had their moments in that round, it was Froch who seemed to be able to do a little more. At the end of six rounds however, Froch was clearly at a deficit and needed something significant to turn things around in his favor.

After a close seventh round that this observer scored even, Froch was able to win the eighth round based on aggression. It was clear at this stage of the fight that the champion was approaching desperation mode. He was able to rough Groves up periodically and appeared to be risking being penalized a point by Referee Howard Foster. 

Even though one might argue that such roughhouse tactics are basically bending the rules, Froch needed to do something to get into the fight. The fight was getting away from him on the scorecards. It was in the ninth round however, that the element of controversy would rear its head.

Froch staggered Groves with a right hand and followed up with a barrage of offense that caused Referee Howard Foster to stop the fight at 1:33 of the round. Although Groves was staggered and appeared to be in trouble, some argued that the stoppage by Foster was quick and that Groves should have been allowed the opportunity to see if he could fight through adversity.

Although this observer believes that the stoppage was early, it is important to remember that we as observers are not the third man in the ring. After studying the stoppage several times in the days following the fight, I believe that perhaps Foster may have seen something in Groves’ body language that may have indicated that he was in trouble. One must remember that in addition to making sure that fighters follow the rules of a fight, the referee above all is responsible for the safety of the fighters. Clearly this was a case of a referee exercising his discretion in stopping the fight.

Some may indeed argue that perhaps the fight could have been stopped in the first round when the champion Froch was knocked down and appeared badly hurt. Although it is perhaps a valid argument, it again boils down to a referee’s discretion. There have been times throughout his career where Carl Froch has been staggered and hurt, but rallied back to win fights most notably against Jermain Taylor. Based on his ability to take punishment and recover, Froch was given the benefit of the doubt. This observer believes however, that had Froch been put into a position where he was clearly incapable of defending himself that the fight would have been stopped.

The stoppage of this fight is somewhat reminiscent of two noteworthy fights that were stopped prematurely in the eyes of some. Many will remember the first fight between former Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and Donovan “Razor” Ruddock in March of 1991.

In a fight where Tyson was able to score knockdowns of Ruddock in the second and third rounds, the exciting battle was stopped in the seventh round after Tyson landed a barrage of punches to the body and head which sent Ruddock staggering back to the ropes. The bout was subsequently stopped by Referee Richard Steele. The stoppage was followed by a riot between the camps of the two fighters. 

A more recent example was the October 2011 WBC World Lightweight championship fight between Jorge Linares and Antonio DeMarco.  In that fight although Linares was taking a beating throughout he was able to win most of the rounds. The end came in the eleventh round when DeMarco was able to get Linares on the ropes and appeared to have Linares defenseless prompting Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. to stop the fight. Although the fight was stopped justifiably in the eyes of this observer, some contended that the fight should have been allowed to go on as Linares appeared to be getting ready to attempt to return offense as Caiz stepped in.  This clearly was not the case as Linares was staggering with his head down to his right along the ropes when the fight was stopped and was not in position to launch any offense much less defend himself. What was overlooked by some in the immediate aftermath of that fight was the class of Antonio DeMarco who while being announced as the new Lightweight world champion consoled a battered Linares in his corner. An example of class that should be applauded by all.

Although some may feel that the Froch-Groves fight was stopped prematurely it is also worth noting that in recent months there have been four cases where fighters have suffered severe injuries, with a commonality of perhaps the injuries being caused due to fights being allowed to go on when maybe they should have been stopped. 

By now most Boxing fans are aware of the tragic circumstances of Heavyweight contender Magomed Abdusalamov who suffered a terrible beating in losing a hard fought ten round unanimous decision to Mike Perez earlier this month. In that fight Abdusalamov sustained several injuries including a broken nose, broken cheek, and broken hand. Abdusalamov however, was put in a medically induced coma after doctors discovered a blood clot on his brain. A part of Abdusalamov’s skull had to be removed to reduce swelling, as well he also suffered a stroke while being in a coma. Abdusalamov still remains in a coma as of this writing.

There are other tragic circumstances however, that may not be known to many Boxing fans that have also taken place. Light-Heavyweight contender Daniel MacKinnon of New Zealand who was stopped by fellow New Zealand contender Robert Berridge on the undercard of the David Tua-Alexander Ustinov bout collapsed in his dressing room following the fight and had to undergo emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. MacKinnon has continued to improve since the surgery and was discharged from a New Zealand hospital earlier this week.

Featherweight contender Jose Carmona also suffered severe injuries in his knockout loss to former multi-division world champion Jorge Arce resulting in Carmona having to undergo two brain surgeries. There is no update as of this writing on Carmona’s condition.

The tragedies that have plagued the sport in recent months have also resulted in a tragic death. Super-Bantamweight contender Frankie Leal died three days after his fight with Raul Hirales in October due to an injury to his brain suffered during the bout. 

Although some may be tempted to criticize Referee Howard Foster for the stoppage of the Froch-Groves fight, in light of the tragedies that have befallen the sport of Boxing in the last several weeks, you cannot fault a referee for exercising his discretion in looking out for the best interest of a fighter. Despite the belief of some that Foster acted in the best interest of Froch by stopping this fight, this observer strongly disagrees.

George Groves gave everything he had in this fight and proved that he belonged on the world level of the sport. Groves has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and in some ways the loss to Froch could be better for him in the long-term as it will likely open more lucrative opportunities for him in the Super-Middleweight division, most likely a rematch with Froch.

Even though Carl Froch is still considered one of the two best fighters in the division, George Groves has proven that he belongs in the discussion. Although Froch may be looking for an eventual rematch with Andre Ward, I believe a rematch with Groves is warranted and should happen as soon as possible. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison