The Best Ref Ever

[Dempsey1238]

Originally Posted by Duodenum

Right. Dempsey's style of refereeing included walking between the fighters in separating clinches, not an accepted practice today. But of course, nobody would have ever dared question his authority in the ring.

Carpentier may have only been a teenager when he refereed Johnson/Moran in Paris, but he did a very good job of being unobstrusive, keeping a low profile despite his celebrity and dual role as sole judge of the contest. He facilitated 20 rounds of steady action, staying largely out of the way. Yes, Carp was a great champion himself, but he could have been very widely utilized as a referee after he retired from competition. If you've seen the footage, you've observed how the Frenchman got the two Americans to consistently break on his signal. A very acceptable performance executing a responsibility he's generally overlooked for.

Thsos were the rules of the day though. I think that practice stop once the 1940's hit, I belive.

[Vantage_West]

Originally Posted by Dempsey1238

Jack Dempsey should get a great call also. He did a great job in refing the Ross McLarin III fight and of couse many of Max Baer's fights.

[Dempsey1238]

Sure Pat was near his death bed vs Max Baer, laying on the ropes ete. But he stop it in time.

[Bill1234]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas1

What examples would you proffer for Cortez playing favourites?

A lot of Tyson's fights that he refed. Tyson will elbow the guy in the face with a clinch, or hit him after the bell, and Cortez will yell at the other guy. Or the one person might initate the clinch, but when they go to let go, Tyson won't let them because he's not done working his head in there or his elbows, Cortez, yet again, will blow that off and yell at the other guy. Other than that, IMO he's a great ref.