The thread about team Pavlik booting a ref from the Hopkins fight (http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96699) gave me this idea... So who are the best referees out there? The most respectable and /or capable? Those who make the right choices when needed and not cause controversy? I have made a list of the most well known refs in the sport, and it's a multiple choice poll, so you can vote for more than one guy. Also, if you feel I'm missing someone, then go ahead and mention him (there is a maximum of 10 choices in a poll, just noticed that). Personally, I think Smoger is very good, nice attitude towards fighters and lets the men fight! I also like Wayne Kelly and Kenny Bayless. Take your picks!!!
The guy who just refereed the Klitschko/Peter fight, Massimo Barrovecchio, seems to be a pretty good referee. I remember when Bell fought Mormeck in the rematch Bell went low a few times. One was pretty blatant and I could have sworn that he was gonna take points away with it being in France and all but he was fair. He just warned Bell and let the fight continue. Normally, under those circumstances and with that crowd the ref would be quick to take points but Barrovecchio was cool. It was a close fight and he didn't influence it. I haven't seen much of the guy other than that but the fact that he didn't take points from Bell when he really wouldn't have been wrong to do so was pretty stand-up on his part.
Btw, I've seen some guys diss Mercante and Nady a lot... About Nady I know the stoppage in the Tszyu/Judah fight pissed some people. As for Mercante, I don't know... I think he tends to show "who's the boss" all the time in the ring... Maybe it's because of that.
I really annoys me when Mercante jr tells the fighters to stop talking....too goddamn strict. It's really distracting and takes away alot of the fun out a fight when you notice the referee....to me in a good fight, you don't notice the referee.
The only ref on the list I have an issue with is Jay Nady. Nady always steps into the action prematurely to seperate fighters on the inside....and if you're a fighter that gets inside someone's reach and works on the inside in chest to chest and shoulder to shoulder action, Jay Nady can and will be your worst nightmare. I've seen Nady step in and just call for a break of the action, on just the assumption that a fighter is reaching out for a clinch.atsch From the list, Tony Weeks and Kenny Bayless are exceptional referees.
Damn. Well, next time you bump into a poll, notice that the tick-boxes in multiple choice polls are square, when in other polls they're round :good
How did you feel with the Tszyu/Judah stoppage? And yes Bayless is great I think. He looks pretty humble before and during a match, unlike some other refs who look somewhat "cocky". He succeeds in not being noticed much