Howard Foster vs Richard Steele - which referee is worse?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by d4n1elc, Oct 25, 2025.


?

  1. Foster is worse

    13 vote(s)
    72.2%

  2. Steele is worse

    5 vote(s)
    27.8%
Page 1 of 2
  1. d4n1elc

    d4n1elc Member Full Member

    154
    134
    May 27, 2025
    After seeing that Parker Wardley fight, I must say that was a horrible stoppage, kinda like a David Tua-Hasim Rahman type of stoppage and that got me thinking, do you guys think Howard Foster is a worse referee than the infamous Richard Steele, who ref'd the Ruddock-Tyson and Chavez-Taylor stoppages or not?
     
    d4n1elc, Oct 25, 2025
    d4n1elc, Oct 25, 2025
    #1
  2. NullaLexInk

    NullaLexInk Sometimes a fella's just gotta be movin' on Full Member

    2,880
    5,072
    Mar 10, 2022
    Tony Weeks
     
    NullaLexInk, Oct 26, 2025
    NullaLexInk, Oct 26, 2025
    #2
    LoveThis and Oddone like this.
  3. The Professor

    The Professor Socialist Ring Leader Staff Member

    26,522
    18,903
    Sep 29, 2008
    I will never forgive Richard Steele for Chavez Taylor I. Howard Foster is terrible, but I don't think he has a stain on his record like that. Joey Curtis also deserves an honorable mention here for Dokes-Weaver.
     
    The Professor, Oct 26, 2025
    The Professor, Oct 26, 2025
    #3
    Smoochie, Napoleon2, Oddone and 1 other person like this.
  4. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,133
    12,128
    Oct 22, 2020
    Foster is worse on a consistent basis, Steele was worse on some big fight calls but otherwise generally could be very good
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Oct 26, 2025
    Pepsi Dioxide, Oct 26, 2025
    #4
    Oddone likes this.
  5. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    29,784
    8,320
    Feb 11, 2005
    I didn't have an issue with Steele stopping Chavez-Taylor. Foster is definitely worse.
     
    Drew101, Oct 26, 2025
    Drew101, Oct 26, 2025
    #5
  6. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

    6,241
    13,632
    Aug 18, 2019
    Recency bias will tip the poll. Personally voted Steel but we can all agree they both are just awful.
     
    Oddone, Oct 26, 2025
    Oddone, Oct 26, 2025
    #6
    Smoochie, MidniteProwler and Pepsi Dioxide like this.
  7. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,133
    12,128
    Oct 22, 2020
    I'll also say, boxing fans never forgot Steele and actively and routinely booed him when he was introduced. Some sort of shaming for Foster should also take place
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Oct 26, 2025
    Pepsi Dioxide, Oct 26, 2025
    #7
    Smoochie, MidniteProwler and d4n1elc like this.
  8. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

    27,571
    29,181
    Sep 19, 2012
    @CST80 maybe a list of the worst referees in boxing? :lol:
     
    MidniteProwler, Oct 26, 2025
    MidniteProwler, Oct 26, 2025
    #8
    Smoochie, CST80 and KO KIDD like this.
  9. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

    30,388
    6,034
    Oct 5, 2009
    Did Steele have a long list of early stoppagles?

    Foster is becoming a meme at this point

    My issue is when a ref let's one fighter absorb tons of punishment but then jumps in the moment the other guy is hurt
     
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    #9
    Smoochie likes this.
  10. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

    30,388
    6,034
    Oct 5, 2009
    Laurence Cole
    Mercante Jr
     
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    #10
    Smoochie and MidniteProwler like this.
  11. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

    27,571
    29,181
    Sep 19, 2012
    Harvey Dock saving Devin Haney's life against Ryan Garcia
     
    MidniteProwler, Oct 26, 2025
    MidniteProwler, Oct 26, 2025
    #11
    Smoochie and KO KIDD like this.
  12. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

    30,388
    6,034
    Oct 5, 2009
    Who was the ref that counted out Kermit cintron then un ended the fight
     
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    #12
  13. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

    30,388
    6,034
    Oct 5, 2009
    This content is protected
     
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    KO KIDD, Oct 26, 2025
    #13
    MidniteProwler likes this.
  14. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,799
    33,100
    Jan 14, 2022
    Tua/Rahman was considerably worse than Wardley/Parker that's not comparable.

    Rahman got hit after the bell in the 9th round which he didn't recover from. And Tua's brief onslaught against Rahman at the start of the next round only lasted about 13 seconds.

    Parker on the other hand took a beating in the 10th round. And when he got hurt again in the 11th round he didn't land a single punch back during Wardley's onslaught for 40 seconds who landed 23 unanswered punches.

    So Wardley's onslaught lasted 3x times as long as Tua's onslaught against Rahman. Plus Parker had taken alot more punishment than Rahman who was easily beating Tua prior to getting hit after the bell.

    I really don't see what the fuss is about regarding this stoppage. Parker took a beating in the 10th round and then got hit with 23 unanswered punches for 40 seconds in the next round.

    And yet people are saying this is a horrible stoppage ? I have to say I find this frankly baffling in all honesty.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Oct 26, 2025
    Dynamicpuncher, Oct 26, 2025
    #14
  15. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,988
    5,703
    May 9, 2023
    Foster is incompetent with a bias towards British fighters.

    Steele is a straight up criminal.

    Pick your poison I guess.
     
    The Cryptkeeper, Oct 26, 2025
    The Cryptkeeper, Oct 26, 2025
    #15
    Smoochie and MidniteProwler like this.
Page 1 of 2