Gervonta davis to defend wba title against ricardo nunez on july 27

[Spicoli]

Was it fought under rules allowing a standing 8 count? Because if not the ref cannot do one

Not sure. Either way the ref was still a little fast in stopping it.

Pretty sure the unified rules don’t allow so I just assume they can’t unless I know differently. I think the kids head snapping around so violently convinced the ref more was happening than really was, and perhaps Davis’s devastating power had something to do with it. Better to be too early than too late sort of thing. Hard to say, but it all could be fixed if standing 8s were allowed more and used more. But then you run into the concern of Refs potentially using standing 8s to rig fights. Using it when unwarranted, suddenly a lost round is a 2 point won round, that’s a big swing

Thats one where I've been on both sides regarding the S. 8 count. They did away with in the late 90's I believe but it would appear to be another reasonable tool for the referee. I mean honestly some refs already rule arbitrarily at times and already have little repercussions for a completely blown or iffy call and seemingly only answer to the tv interviewer. On one hand a ref could assess a fighters shape after being staggered bad, have them step forward etc and then decide but on the other it also allows the damage to 'reset' and a hurt fighter to recover to only take more. I do think anytime a fighter is held up by the ropes or near falling through it should be an automatic knockdown, the ol Holyfield v Cooper scenario maybe.