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Philippines, 14 Mar 2026 |
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?Only the referee can stop the fight? By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Tue, 08 Jun 2010  The WBA 154-lb title fight between Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto provides a situation where the rule ?only the referee can stop the fight? is highlighted. When Foreman?s cornerman threw in the towel during the heat of exchanges in the 8th round, many thought the fight was over. Cotto raised his hands in victory thinking as well that he had won his 3rd world title in a 3rd weight division at that point. The cornerman had stopped the fight. Didn?t he? No, he didn?t. Before the start of a fight, the significant fight rules are shown. Among these are: ?The 3-knockdown rule is waived?, ?A fighter cannot be saved by the bell?, and, ?Only the referee can stop the fight?. Fight fans are used to seeing fights stopped when a cornerman throws in a towel or the ringside doctor, after examining a cut fighter and making a signal that the fight is over, the fight is over. Unnoticed is the fact that the towel thrown and the doctor?s signal are just recommendations for the referee to consider in making the decision as to whether to let the fight continue or to stop it. It is the referee?s decision to stop a fight which stops a fight. When the Foreman-Cotto fight resumed after the momentary confusion, referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. pointed out the significance of the oftentimes misunderstood rule that ?only the referee can stop the fight?. A lesson shown and an opportunity to learn put up for the wise. Mercante did as he deemed right. He asked Foreman if he wanted to continue thus giving the champion the right to be heard in a situation where, as the referee sees it, he could still fight. Whether or not the referee is right in his decision is beside the point. The point is that he is the authority to make the decision and his decision stands. Obviously, the rule ?only the referee can stop the fight? applies only when the situation calls for the referee to make a decision. While the referee can disregard a cornerman?s or a doctor?s recommendation, he can?t make a fight continue when a fighter is knocked out or refuses to continue fighting. Arthur Mercante, Jr. showed decisiveness in the Foreman-Cotto fight. Fight fans have been shown a good demonstration in the application of the rule ?only the referee can stop the fight?. Top photo: Miguel Cotto (L), Caguas, Puerto Rico dethrones previously unbeaten WBA World Super Welterweight champion Yuri Foreman(R), Brooklyn, N.Y., to win the WBA World Super Welterweight title by stopping Foreman in the 9th round Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. -- Photo Credit: Chris Farina - Top Rank. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda.  |
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