Just a question i have regarding tko's. Let me give you three different scenarios...In all three cases the guy is against the ropes and taking some big shots (like say Morrison did against Mercer). Fighter 1: Lets say a guy like Tua.... granite chin and never gets hurt and you know this reputation Fighter 2: A guy like Tommy Morrison.... chin is a bit shaky and gets in trouble when on the ropes, again you know how he handles a punch Fighter 3: Never seen the guy in action before and you dont know anything about him Phil do you let fighter 1 take more clean punches and not tko him because of his reputation as being very durable? Likewise, do fighters 2 and 3 get tko'd by the ref earlier (after less clean shots) because they are known to have a shaky chin and you know that its only a matter of time before they go down? Is it important for refs to know the fighters characteristics that they are watching over? I have always wondered this... because after all not every fighter, especially a guy like tua, is going to show you he is hurt and if he has a rep of being a granite chinned guy then i can imagine some might give him the benefit of the doubt over a guy with a lesser chin. I mean it guess it could also go for cuts. If a guy is a profuse bleeder and starts to open up do you assumed from other fights that because its def going to get worse you call it earlier?
You treat every situation on it's merits. If the cut is bad, take it to the doc or stop it, if it's not too bad let it carry on til such a point that he is out of the fight. Fighter is against the ropes and taking a lot of unanswered shots then stop it - you are there for the fighters safety and reputations should not come into it. You (should) know when the fighter is done if you are any good at what you do and so when you get the signals you pull the trigger. Guys like Tua might take a couple, but he never gets himself into the position where he will take 7 or 8 unanswered power shots. Hope this helps if not let me know
Fair play Phil and respect what your saying, but where does your response sit with someone like 'Thunder' Gatti and Mickey Ward. I know you and I have personaly spoke about this issue of fighters punishment previously, but there are fighters who absorb it too, in order to give it out so to speak? 'Thunder' looked 'done' by mere mortals standards in the past and then came out and brains his opponents in some of his best fights...
Up close to the action is where you get the best feel for these things and TBH at no stage would I have stopped Thunder against Ward, cos he was too smart. There are times you are close to stopping a bloke and he fires back taking this away from you. Gatti was smart.... by the same token if he had lived to see his later years, you would not have wanted his brain IMO
Fair play. We'll never know and in no way am I disrespecting 'Thunder', but yes tend to agree, his later years (RIP Arturo), 'may' have been hard as I don't see how that much punishment would have been good for his long-term health. By god he was amazing to watch though, I still watch those fights now and get goose bumps!
Yeah mate interesting question......we know Phil could write a book on this one....lets hope he gives us the abbreviated version :hey
Hey Ash, fair to say your 'Man' won't be needing the close refs call/judgement on taking 'big shots'. He just ends on his ass with a soft shot - see Ottke!!! Sorry mate, had to say it, just winding you up!!!
Phil, is it your officiating contract to have transexual hookers visit you at your hotel before the fight or do you organise them yourself?
Ha ha....its a funny thing the human noggin......if you have been punched in the head lots like I have its funny the shots that hurt or sit you on your ass....and the same goes for throwing them. I have sat guys down with a jab and they got up and I landed another 4 flush shots and they still stood up :huh Likewise I have been sat down from some short shots but keep fighting through huge shots. Same with other fighters and Mundine.....he has taken bigger shots than the Ottke shot....just got him sweet....thats the fight game for you :good
Joy of being an official. No organisation on my part required so it's easy to do "A Leon" as it's called
every situation on its merits, good answer :good thanks mate, that had been bugging me for years... i guess you get a feel for each situation and by ignoring reputations your judgement isnt clouded? fair call?