Quote Originally Posted by Hulk View Post
Fuck Kirkland for hitting Tapia like that after he clearly knew the fight was over.
I agree they were late, but I think it's easier said than done to go from complete kill mode to civilian mode in the span of a second.

It goes to my point though that it's not Kirkland's job to protect Tapia, it's the referees. If you look at the UFC fights, the referee is in there with authority to either get in between the fighters or physically grab a guy.

If they had a Herb Dean, Dan Mirgliotta, or Big John McCarthy in there, Kirkland doesn't land those extra shots.

I appreciate and respect Smoger's experience and knowledge, but that doesn't cut it alone IMO. You really need a younger, athletic guy with good reflexes. Someone who can really jump in there and assert himself physically.

Smoger is old, he's slow, and he was very tentative hesitant getting in between those guys.