Bayless shouldn't even ref in the trilogy! His true colors came out..
Not sure how this happens, but so many referees I once admired seemed to make worse decisions as they got older. Bayless had officiated some great fights. But the past 5 or so years he is doing what Joe Cortez and other before him...Cortez IMO was a fine ref, but his last 5 or so years were awful. I used to respect Jay Nady, but the officiating he did RJJ vs Ruiz...just watch the 1st 30 seconds. By 2:37 left in the 1st friggin round...he broke up Ruiz 2 x...and then admonished him. I repeat. within 13 seconds of the 1st round....a referee not only broke up the fighters, but held out 2 fingers saying - I've already warned you twice. Worse is that both times, Ruiz didn't really clinch an arm of RJJ. Sillier is that the 2nd break he said Ruiz hit low twice already, yet the 1st break he just said stop means stop. Stop as in stop clinching or stop hitting low? I dunno, but he IMO is the worst ref..in terms of refs who used to do good a job. But Ken is vying to take the title. Heck my favorite ref of all time Smoger...his last few fights he stopped matches without a count. This is the guy who would let you fight it out. If hurt- a chance to go out on one's shield. Around 2009 or so, I told Ken B at the IBHOF that he was one of my favs...and that he did a good job on my % meter...LOL was about 80% U got it right... to my surprise he was real humble toward my in-your-face-criticism. If I see him this year, I'll speak on BF24's behalf and let him know...man collect your social security check and let the young refs take over!
I think the POV of a boxing ref is so different to us as viewers, they see things we couldn't possibly see. Also understand that referee's will have slight biases, they're human.
Poor performance by the ref. He gave the impression that he was biased in favour of Wilder. Not good enough from him or the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The point deduction was petty & disproportionate to what was occurring in the ring.
Supposedly Bayleess took the point for an alleged headlock. It was so obvious he was providing preferential treatment to a black American over a white European. “Deontay Leshun” Wilder was finally truly exposed as a hype-job with a tomato can record, who actually lost the first time in his match with Fury who was robbed with a draw. Despite the clear American-racial favoritism by referee Kenny Bayless for Wilder, in the rematch with Fury Wilder was completely dominated, totally outclassed and master-classed by Fury from start to finish. Although Wilder is not a quitter, and can take punches, the trash-talking clown-mask Wilder has very limited boxing skills besides a decent wild right hand (which Fury can withstand). Rumor has it he was knocked out cold as ATG Klitschko’s sparring partner and that’s why his management has protected him from fighting A level competition to pad his record for money. There is no need for a second rematch between Fury and Wilder considering that Wilder got beaten up twice by Fury. The Divisions should move forward to see what Joshua and Usyk can do between them and Fury.
He was absolutely despicable in this fight. No one sane can defend his clear signs of favoritism here.
I will say it again. Got to his website, and share your thoughts with him. Nobody else will hold him accountable for his actions. the link is just his name .com
Once Fury exposed his plan to attack Wilder and rough him up I was shocked his team was OK with Bayless, whose clsim to fame as we all know was Floyds protector. Weeks would have been the ref for Furys gameplan, he certainly would not have been docked that BS point in the 5th. Bayless really exposed his bias. It was pathetic.
To be fair he had issued previous warnings to both fighters and their corners before he deducted the points.
I get the impression that some referees -- people like Kenny Bayless, Joe Cortez and Ian John Lewis -- actually have far bigger egos than many of the fighters. They seem to be the type of people who can't stand it not being about them, so they have to make it about them at all costs.
