Another horrible stoppage from referee Howard John Foster (Froch vs Groves referee)

[LacedUp]

Because he wasn't as hurt as Groves was in the 9th.

that's just not true.

[IronDanHamza]

You don't get it, Foster stops fights early in favor of the A-side fighter. Doesn't matter who's winning, who's dominating, whether or not it's needed. His mindset is to stop the B-side fighter as soon as possible.


Forget the scorecards, did that sequence warrant a stoppage? He got TKO'd with blocked punches. SMH


This is just a coincidence of course.

A-side fighter Cello Renda gets his ass kicked by B-side Danny Butler : Foster doesn't stop it until Renda gets dropped several times and looks completely done. Another coincidence.

If these guys don't get it at this point, they're in denial.

Cello "A side" Renda. Why do you say that because it was in Peterborough?

I suppose Renda's people had Foster in their pocket and that's the reason he was so late to stop the "A side"

[IronDanHamza]

that's just not true.

Froch was more hurt in the 6th than Groves was in the 9th?

Froch never looked like he was on the way to being stopped like Groves was.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

You only found 1 example?

The guy is notorious for it

[IronDanHamza]

You only found 1 example?

The guy is notorious for it

Hey don't forget he let Cello "A Side" Renda go on for 3 whole knocks downs in round 1 before he stopped it.

That's pretty much the most solid evidence you can get that he's corrupt and the "A side" nationwide have him in their pocket.

[LacedUp]

Froch was more hurt in the 6th than Groves was in the 9th?

Froch never looked like he was on the way to being stopped like Groves was.

I've just watched it back on HD. When I first saw the fight, I was streaming it from a hotel room in Lisbon and it looked like Groves was a bit hurt - but still early.

Having just rewatched it, it was ridiculous. They were both throwing, and I think I counted two or three that actually landed. I think Froch landed a right hook that turned Groves face - but he stood up and as he was about to push/hold Froch - ref stops it. Froch was absolutely more hurt in both the 1st and the 6th than Groves.

Ask you this, do you think if the roles were reversed that it would have been stopped? and would you have been happy with it?

If you say yes you are lying. Because you know Froch is a strong fighter with an iron chin and a second-to-none ability in terms of recuperation. He recovers extremely well and quickly, which round 1 shows.

Froch would never have been stopped had the roles been reversed. never. We both know that.

That being said, I don't think it was corruption. just pure ignorance from a terrible referee.

[IronDanHamza]

I've just watched it back on HD. When I first saw the fight, I was streaming it from a hotel room in Lisbon and it looked like Groves was a bit hurt - but still early.

Having just rewatched it, it was ridiculous. They were both throwing, and I think I counted two or three that actually landed. I think Froch landed a right hook that turned Groves face - but he stood up and as he was about to push/hold Froch - ref stops it. Froch was absolutely more hurt in both the 1st and the 6th than Groves.

Ask you this, do you think if the roles were reversed that it would have been stopped? and would you have been happy with it?

If you say yes you are lying. Because you know Froch is a strong fighter with an iron chin and a second-to-none ability in terms of recuperation. He recovers extremely well and quickly, which round 1 shows.

Froch would never have been stopped had the roles been reversed. never. We both know that.

That being said, I don't think it was corruption. just pure ignorance from a terrible referee.

At no point did Froch look like he was going to be stopped like Groves did.

And did you think Groves took no punishment when you rewatched it or do you still think that Groves face bruises due to the air when Frochs misses and the impact of the punches being blocked?

[LacedUp]

At no point did Froch look like he was going to be stopped like Groves did.

And did you think Groves took no punishment when you rewatched it or do you still think that Groves face bruises due to the air when Frochs misses and the impact of the punches being blocked?

Are you still talking round 6 or are we talking the fight as a whole? Because by Foster's standards, not only should Froch have been deemed unable to defend himself in round 1 but should have been carried out on a stretcher and taken directly to a hospital. In round 6, I counted 6-7 clean straight right hands that landed on Froch's jaw. Groves having a much more fluid style who actually dodges punches, may have looked as if he was hurt - but in reality he was dodging punches and firing back. It was a ridiculous stoppage by all measurements.

Groves caught a few punches, he didn't take "punishment". Certainly not to the extent you are making it out to be. or Froch himself.

Froch was very inaccurate with his punches, and most were blocked. But Groves does bruise easily, as you can see with most of his fights. He's very light skinned.

You didn't answer my question, if the situation had been reversed should Froch have been stopped?

[Kris Silver]

I think it is mostly incompetence but someone made a good point, professionalism is absolutely minimising your likely un-avoidable bias to say a few % points so it's not noticeable. This ref can't do this so is incompetent.

Another poster made a good point that even if they aren't directly asked or encouraged to do such things, there is often an unspoken consensus vybe to lean towards one side. The decision goes to a certain corner and it does likely lead to bigger fights for the ref.

For a ref to clearly back and agree with a prediction of one side winning in the 9th is simply un-acceptable, that should be investigated and punishable. Two cards having it even without the KD also points to sheer dodgy officialing of that fight too. 45 out of 46 press scorecards had it much wider, why have 2/3 judges got it so close and the ref jumping in the second one guys hurt, but not the numerous times the other guy is more hurt? It just doesn't stack up.

[LacedUp]

I think it is mostly incompetence but someone made a good point, professionalism is absolutely minimising your likely un-avoidable bias to say a few % points so it's not noticeable. This ref can't do this so is incompetent.

Another poster made a good point that even if they aren't directly asked or encouraged to do such things, there is often an unspoken consensus vybe to lean towards one side. The decision goes to a certain corner and it does likely lead to bigger fights for the ref.

For a ref to clearly back and agree with a prediction of one side winning in the 9th is simply un-acceptable, that should be investigated and punishable. Two cards having it even without the KD also points to sheer dodgy officialing of that fight too. 45 out of 46 press scorecards had it much wider, why have 2/3 judges got it so close and the ref jumping in the second one guys hurt, but not the numerous times the other guy is more hurt? It just doesn't stack up.

And also Foster looked likely to jump in much sooner than he actually did.

As if he'd decided before hand that he'd stop Groves.