Stoppage was early but can see why the ref made the decision. That eye was a mess and his vision on the side certainly appeared impaired to some degree.

Refs are in a horrible position as their decisions are hugely influential on a fighters welfare. Not so long ago a well respected Scottish referee, Victor Loughlin, was ref in 2 fights that saw fighters seriously injured. Nick Blackwell was left in an induced coma and Mike Towell collapsed and subsequently died. In both cases a Doctor was summomed and in both cases they ruled the fighter able to continue, in Blackwells case the Doctor was asked a 2nd time and stopped the fight. Loughlin was distraught in both cases and had to endure his integrity and ability being called into question. There was a social media hate campaign against him and more than one poster on here said he should never referee again. I wonder how many would have said he stopped both fights early had he stopped them a couple of rounds earlier and what the outcomes may have been?

Referees are instructed to be cautious and stop fights if they feel a boxer is impaired to the detriment of being able to protect themselves. Last night may have been early but allowing another minute or 2 was only postponing the inevitable. Do we really want to return to the days of guys taking 15-20 unanswered head shots before a ref steps in?