Richard Steele

[USAalltheway]

People complaining about Meldrick being robbed should probably first learn the rules of boxing. Not only is a referee NOT required to grab the wrists of a downed fighter, he's not even required to ask him if he's ok(case in point Jay Nady not being disciplined for waving off Zab in his fight with Kostya). He can stop the fight at any moment. The reason a referee grabs a fighters wrists is to wipe off his gloves on his shirt after they've touched the canvas as to not allow dirt in an opponents eyes. And that's normally only done in the event of slips, flash knockdowns, or knockdowns where the fighter is clearly not hurt and the fight will continue. As for people actually thinking the fight was waved off too quickly, Taylor is lucky he was even given as much of a chance as he was to continue by Steele. A referee doesn't just reach the end of his count and evaluate a fighter's condition. He's evaluating him through the entire count, which is why you can see Steele's eyes wide open lazered in on Taylor's eyes throughout the count. Many hurt fighters do not even get asked if they are ok (Tyson reaching his feet on the count of 9 and the fight being waved off as the ref can see his mouthpiece hanging half out of his mouth against Buster Douglas). Meldrick Taylor got KTFO, deal with it. Next you'll be complaining that Steele didn't wave smelling salts under the guy's nose

[Violent Demise]

People complaining about Meldrick being robbed should probably first learn the rules of boxing. Not only is a referee NOT required to grab the wrists of a downed fighter, he's not even required to ask him if he's ok(case in point Jay Nady not being disciplined for waving off Zab in his fight with Kostya). He can stop the fight at any moment. The reason a referee grabs a fighters wrists is to wipe off his gloves on his shirt after they've touched the canvas as to not allow dirt in an opponents eyes. And that's normally only done in the event of slips, flash knockdowns, or knockdowns where the fighter is clearly not hurt and the fight will continue. As for people actually thinking the fight was waved off too quickly, Taylor is lucky he was even given as much of a chance as he was to continue by Steele. A referee doesn't just reach the end of his count and evaluate a fighter's condition. He's evaluating him through the entire count, which is why you can see Steele's eyes wide open lazered in on Taylor's eyes throughout the count. Many hurt fighters do not even get asked if they are ok (Tyson reaching his feet on the count of 9 and the fight being waved off as the ref can see his mouthpiece hanging half out of his mouth against Buster Douglas). Meldrick Taylor got KTFO, deal with it. Next you'll be complaining that Steele didn't wave smelling salts under the guy's nose

Taylor got screwed. Taylor was the champion. He was winning the fight going into the 12th. Yes he got dropped. Yes he was hurt. But he got up. He didn't stumble or wobble. When asked if he could continue he gave a slight nod yes. Isn't that what your suppose to do when you get knocked down? Yet Steele still waved it off.

[No Contest]

He wasn't looking "around" he looked to his corner because Duva was probably flipping out. Its also very loud at that time I think he should have motioned Taylor to walk forward, rather than using audible question do you want to continue. He kind of smothered him as well. Horrible judgement and situational awareness on Steele's part or he had money on Chavez.

[No Contest]

Also he got up very early in the count, people dont bounce back up when they are completely out of it.

[BoomBoom]

Also he got up very early in the count, people dont bounce back up when they are completely out of it.

Zab Judah

[No Contest]

I felt Zab might have been able to go on as well, the count wasn't up very high. I think he waved it off at 5 seconds, he just was to wobbly and as soon as he stumbled Nady started waving it off.Mills didnt wave off Trevor Berbick, Mills Lane let him fall like 3 times before waving it off. Its just funny how some refs will let people get battered to hell and some jump in and stop at the drop of a hat. I always thought Nady was a shitty ref btw. Zab did look out of it at first though pointing to Nady like it was his fault

[BoomBoom]

I agree Nady is a pretty sh@tty ref a lot of the time, but I think that was a good stoppage. I think one more punch, Zab would have left on a stretcher.

[THE THIRD MAN]

I felt Zab might have been able to go on as well, the count wasn't up very high. I think he waved it off at 5 seconds, he just was to wobbly and as soon as he stumbled Nady started waving it off.Mills didnt wave off Trevor Berbick, Mills Lane let him fall like 3 times before waving it off. Its just funny how some refs will let people get battered to hell and some jump in and stop at the drop of a hat. I always thought Nady was a shitty ref btw. Zab did look out of it at first though pointing to Nady like it was his fault

And Mills Lane was wrong in the Berbick fight, Nady was right in the Judah fight.
As time has proven, Judah has not been the same since, imagine had that fight gone into a 3rd round? Judah's brain was already scrambled, he may never have fought again, who knows? Judah owes Nady his life i reckon. Taylor was never the same again either.

[Violent Demise]

He wasn't looking "around" he looked to his corner because Duva was probably flipping out. Its also very loud at that time I think he should have motioned Taylor to walk forward, rather than using audible question do you want to continue. He kind of smothered him as well. Horrible judgement and situational awareness on Steele's part or he had money on Chavez.

Agree. Steele was looking for audio confirmation from Taylor. Which was damn near impossible considering Taylor was exhausted. His cheek bone was fractured. And the mouth piece was in his mouth. Taylor slight nod should of been enough acknowledgement for Steele

[BIG H]

He wasn't looking "around" he looked to his corner because Duva was probably flipping out. Its also very loud at that time I think he should have motioned Taylor to walk forward, rather than using audible question do you want to continue. He kind of smothered him as well. Horrible judgement and situational awareness on Steele's part or he had money on Chavez.

Agree. Steele was looking for audio confirmation from Taylor. Which was damn near impossible considering Taylor was exhausted. His cheek bone was fractured. And the mouth piece was in his mouth. Taylor slight nod should of been enough acknowledgement for Steele

I still can't see the nod you are talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wm18vkXRF0

[Fenster]

McGuigan doesn't look half as badly hurt to me. His legs have gone and is suffering from exhaustion but his head seems there.

Taylor looks like he's one shot away from death.

[CGM]

Diego Coralles looked a shot away from death.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

He wasn't looking "around" he looked to his corner because Duva was probably flipping out. Its also very loud at that time I think he should have motioned Taylor to walk forward, rather than using audible question do you want to continue. He kind of smothered him as well. Horrible judgement and situational awareness on Steele's part or he had money on Chavez.

Agree. Steele was looking for audio confirmation from Taylor. Which was damn near impossible considering Taylor was exhausted. His cheek bone was fractured. And the mouth piece was in his mouth. Taylor slight nod should of been enough acknowledgement for Steele

I still can't see the nod you are talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wm18vkXRF0

There's definitely a nod there, just as he turns to look at his corner.

Richard Steele was too busy doing the theatrical hand wave with his eye's shut to actually notice.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

There was a special in Boxing Monthly on Leonard-Hagler ''20 Years On'' where Hagler spilled his guts over all his thoughts on everything surrounding the fight.

He went on to comment about Richard Steele's involvement in the fight.
Said some alarming things

I was reading it just the other day and Straight away i thought of the Taylor-Chavez fight.

[BoomBoom]

Another thing that people have to realize is that Steel knows what to look for in a fighters eyes that prompt a decision to stop a fight. Many of us also know some of the signs of a fighter that shouldnt be allowed to continue, but none of us, and no one in that entire building was as close to Taylor physically at that moment as Steele was. He was inches away and obviously made a decision based on what he was observing and his experience. Not the worse stoppage ive ever seen, most unfortunate though. And Chavez inflicted A LOT of damage on him in that fight. He wasnt the same after that fight.