Tate vs Berbick: How come....

[mochabuzz]

How come Berbick did not get Disqualified for punching Tate in the back of the head. I think some referees or officials would have disqualified Berbick for doing what he did. I have a tape of this fight & have seen it many times... Berbick appears to have delivered the real knock out blow to his opponent while Tate was against the ropes... a few seconds later Tate runs into the middle of the ring (away from Berbick) & is punched in the neck and in the back on the head. Tate then falls to the canvas & is out of it, unable to continue. It was a close fight & i think that Berbick could have been DQ'd. Thoughts... opinions?

[The Kurgan]

There's nothing wrong with hitting an opponent if he turns his back on you. In fact, if it hadn't been for Tate getting knocked out, the ref would have been justified in at least giving a public warning to Tate for turning his back on his opponent, which is contrary to the rules.

Tate broke the rules; Berbick was acting within them (if not within the rules of sportmanship).

[mochabuzz]

So its completely legal to punch someone in the back of the head if they are running away from you?
I guess Tate's "run" was similar to Tommy Hearns' drunken dance away from Hagler in the 3rd round of their fight... which was quickly punctuated by a Hagler hook.

[ThinBlack]

Maybe it was due to Berbick being a naturalized citizen.

[frankenfrank]

How come Berbick did not get Disqualified for punching Tate in the back of the head. I think some referees or officials would have disqualified Berbick for doing what he did. I have a tape of this fight & have seen it many times... Berbick appears to have delivered the real knock out blow to his opponent while Tate was against the ropes... a few seconds later Tate runs into the middle of the ring (away from Berbick) & is punched in the neck and in the back on the head. Tate then falls to the canvas & is out of it, unable to continue. It was a close fight & i think that Berbick could have been DQ'd. Thoughts... opinions?

There's nothing wrong with hitting an opponent if he turns his back on you. In fact, if it hadn't been for Tate getting knocked out, the ref would have been justified in at least giving a public warning to Tate for turning his back on his opponent, which is contrary to the rules.

Tate broke the rules; Berbick was acting within them (if not within the rules of sportmanship).

So its completely legal to punch someone in the back of the head if they are running away from you?
I guess Tate's "run" was similar to Tommy Hearns' drunken dance away from Hagler in the 3rd round of their fight... which was quickly punctuated by a Hagler hook.
good posts and good reply . At least until i c this , it made me slightly more curious about these 2 and this fight .