Hi...I'm Drew...and I'm addicted to boxing. (one or two people call out "Hi Drew!) Not a bad list at all, kirk. I think I might put Tony Weeks above Cortez right now, because Johnson fight notwithstanding, he never really seems to make a bad call. (and I'm not even sure if he really screwed up in that case, either.) Agreed about Nady. he's incredibly inconsistant.
oh man... my bad... when i put down bayless out of my head went weeks too... i ment to have him there, 1 - Smoger 2 - Bayless 3 - Weeks 4 - cortes/steele
Im fair but Im firm I dont like that damn saying, shouldnt the correct usage of the term as I recall from my days as a US Marine be.... Im firm but Im fair and Cortez that idot has it backward? and everytime I hear him say it well drives me nuts. The implication being Im going to be a real nasty hard task master and you will hate me but I will always be fair to you hence dammit the Im firm then but Im fair shtik that Cortez has backwards. Am I right or wrong?
There's a few Cortez moments I really dislike - A) When he DQ'd Tszyu for hitting on the break against Leonardo Mas. B) When he ruled the body shot that dropped John Ruiz by Evander Holyfield was a low blow - Thus making us endure another whole 15 or so rounds of Holy man Vs Boo-iz C) His over officious early handling of the Hatton fight. However - There's a slew of fights - The Fenech years come to mind - Where when you have two guys willing to duke it out on the inside - Where he'd let them work for the most part. Three examples of his off nights when the guy must have officiated over 1000 title fights doesn't make him a crap ref - It makes him human.
Mills Lane was always my favourite back in the day, thought he was quality but he ****ed up the Tyson/Holyfield rematch - he wanted to DQ Tyson after the first bite but got dissuaded from doing so by Marc Ratner (I think) who was obviously worried about a premature stoppage. Lane was right in that instance, Tyson should have been DQ'd but he allowed outside influences to talk him out of his decision which was a sign of weakness. OK Cortez's performance in the Hatton/Mayweather fight wasn't exactly perfect but Hatton fans cling to that as though it's what caused their hero's downfall as opposed to the absolute FACT that Hatton was out-gunned in every department in the ring anyway, the referee made no difference even though he was a minor irritation. Compare Cortez's performance against the shocking crap that Eddie Cotton (I think that was his name) came up with in the Lewis- Tyson fight and then talk to me about bias, Cotton was FAR worse yet it's forgotten because all his bull**** didn't make any difference to the result.
Cortez is one of the best i wish he would have refereed the kostya tszyu bout hattons style is annoying, he grabs to much!! i know hatton is a better boxer and has the ability to outbox most fighter's in the sport, but instead he rely's on wrestling and smothering his own punches in the process, he needs to rely on his boxing ability rather than his irritating wrestling matches in the future.
Cortez -- Great Ref. Did a good job with Floyd/Hatton. Broke up cliches and kept it a boxing match. It could of ended up a foul fest or disqualification.
Of all the refs out there today, IMO Joe Cortez is the best. I don't I have seen him make obvious bad decisions ever. Jay Nady is the worst, with Rany Newman a close 2nd.