Quote Originally Posted by AdamGB
there is room for argueing, look what we're doing now. Most refs aren't stupid and pracitcally all of them know the difference between a fighter loosing his balance. They have the power to stop a fight if some one is practically out on their feet etc and its basicly the same call. I don't really see that many people arguing when fights get stopped nowdays (obviously the fighter will...) and this is basicly the same.

I don't blame Starr though she's going to use any technicality she can to say that her boy hit Floyd with a punch that floored him, when what she actualy should say is 'my boy Zab hit Floyd off balance with a punch that had the 8 pounds of his arm behind it and he stumbed backwards'.
I agree that the punch wasn't much, and that the punch was only one factor in Floyd's glove touching the canvas. However, with the rule as it is now, the only thing that can be argued is whether or not the rule is flawed. According to the rules, it is crystal clear that Steele missed the call. Because if you have the rule book infront of you, and watch the replay, Floyd was without a doubt knocked down according to the rules.

I think it's made this way so that calls are consistent. With the rule the way it is now, if a ref sees a punch land, and a part other than the feet touching the mat because of the punch, he is to automatically rule it a knockdown. He doesn't have to get a look at the guys eyes to see if they are phazed, or take into consideration how well the man/woman takes a punch generally, or the power that the other fighter has in his punches etc.

It's just simple, punch landed, part touched the mat, knockdown.