It's Almost Criminal

By Ron Widelec

23.03 - When a fighter enters the ring, he knows that he has only three things to protect his health: One, his own skill and ability. Two, the referee that will stop the fight if he can no longer defend himself. And three, his corner, which is supposed to act in the best interest of the fighter at all times.

It is always controversial when a fight is stopped by something other than a ten-count. Someone is always complaining, suing, or filing some sort of protest. However, it is often necessary to make such stoppages. These stoppages can be from head-butts, disqualifications, TKO stoppages, among others. For each situation there is a set process that must be used, varying from state to state.

TKO stoppages are perhaps the most controversial. Someone always feels that it was too soon, too late, or totally unnecessary. If I had a nickel for every time I have heard a fighter, fan, or manager complain about a stoppage, I'd be quite rich.

Usually (depending on the state), there are three people that can stop a fight. The referee is supposed to stop a fight when he feels that a fighter can no longer defend himself. This means that he is not throwing punches, not keeping his hands up, or not dodging incoming shots. Basically, if a fighter is taking a lot of shots in a short amount of time and not doing anything about it, the referee stops the fight. In some states a ringside doctor can stop a fight (in others the doctor can advise the referee, but the final decision is left to the refs discretion). The doctor will stop a fight if he feels that a fighter is too badly hurt to continue. That can range from heavy bleeding, to obstructed vision, or excessive swelling, among many others. The third group that can stop a fight is the fighter's corner-men. The fighter's corner can stop a fight for any reason, but usually will do so if they feel that the fighter has taken too much punishment.

The corner's job is to act in the "best interest" of the fighter. This does not necessarily mean to do anything to help that fighter win the immediate fight. Sometimes it means stopping a fight to save a fighter's life, even if it means hurting his ego.

I only bring this up in light of the recent Scott Harrison v. Wayne McCullough bout. McCullough is a former champion that is known for a granite chin, which has been tested against the thunderous punches of Morales and Naseem Hamed. Under these punches he has never even been knocked down in his career. Another well-known fact about him is that he was out of boxing for a while after a cist was found on his brain. Harrison is a young rising fighter with decent power and speed. He is also the current WBO featherweight titleholder.

From round one Harrison dominated the fight. McCullough looked slow, sloppy, and had no snap in his punches. Harrison pummeled the former champion over and over again, nearly sending him to canvas on multiple occasions. The referee was close to stopping the fight several times. McCullough's corner did not stop the fight either. Instead, McCullough receiving, what is maybe, the worst beating of his life for twelve rounds. Somewhere in the system of fight stoppages there was a mistake. Lets see where is happened.

Throughout the fight, the referee was looking very closely. Every time McCullough went reeling back to the ropes from a punch, the referee was waiting to see if the fight had to be stopped. However, McCullough kept throwing punches. He kept trying to fight back, and keep himself alive in the fight. As long as a fighter can defend himself, the referee should let the fight go. McCullough was defending himself, he just wasn't doing a very good job of it. But if a fight was stopped every time a fighter wasn't doing a good job, we would have lots of two rounds fights. So, I don't blame the referee at all. It is not the job of the referee to ponder about the consequences of a fighter taking that many shots, especially one with a history of brain cists. The referee is there to keep the fight clean, and protect a fighter if he cannot protect himself. The referee did an excellent job.

So whose job is it, then? Well, as stated earlier, the corner's job is the do what is in the best interest of the fighter. Does that include saving a fighter's life? I should hope so. By round six, even Harrison's jab was sending McCullough's head flying back, and shaking his legs. I can understand a corner wanting to give its fighter the best chance to win, but there was really no chance for that after round six. McCullough's best punches didn't even phase Harrison, who was bombing McCullough non-stop. Since their man was fighting back, the referee could not stop the fight. Very few fighters can tell during a fight if they have taken too much damage, and most wouldn't stop anyway. So it falls to the corner to save their fighter, and leave with his bodies intact to fight another day. The corner, that knows about McCullough's recent cist, and can see the whole fight up close, must act in the best interest of the fighter. Last night, McCullough's corner failed miserably, and hopefully McCullough does not suffer any long tern effects based on their utter failure. Perhaps some one needs to clarify what the term "BEST INTEREST" really means.

Any questions or comments: Email me at Beowolf88@aol.com