I'm watching the 9th round of Berto/Guerrero right now, and it made me think about the holding. Referees don't often get mentioned but I thought he did a good job allowing Guerrero to work on the inside when Berto was initiating clinches. Sometimes, referees jump in whenever a clinch is initiated and that allows an unfair advantage to the fighter who doesn't want to, or is incapable of, fighting on the inside. If one fighter is going to hold, the referee shouldn't immediately jump in to break them up. Holding is cheating and should be punished by point deductions. At the very least though, referees should not openly favour one fighter by allowing them to clinch whenever they want, and then refuse to let their opponent work on the inside.
Yea I'm with you. Berto was trying to bear hug anytime he was uncomfortable inside. So many fighters use this illegal tactic. What Guererro did was correct, if one hand is left free you are suppose to try and fight out. Which is what Guererro did. Kellerman was terribly biased again last night as usual. Made me cringe when he was saying the first knockdown Guererro was holding and hitting. It was clear as day Berto initiated a clinch while hurt and Guererro was able to overpower and work free of the Berto bear hug. I mean what is this ****?
good job and that ref should never be put in the same sentence . . . he had zero control and turn what should have been a great fight into a farce
Wrong in so many ways. A referee is not their to control the fight. He is their to keep it fair. Berto initiated most cinches while Guererro correctly worked out.
No, what he was referring to was when the Ghost was holding behind the head and let him like 5 times to knock him down the first time and similarly the second time. Then Berto started to use rough house tactics and he starts to warn Berto . . . the ref was a joke. i do not blame Guerrero for fight rough, is smart to take advantage of what the ref gives you.
What? so the ref is not there to ensure the rules are followed? Man go back to MMA or something. SO in your world if a fighter tampers with his gloves the ref is only there to make sure that the other guy can as well?
You need to rewatch right now. The camera shows Berti holding on that side then Camera switches angles to Guererro free hand where he cracked Berto repeatedly til her dropped. Berto is a natural grappler when anyone fights him inside. Guerrero was smart enough to know how to beat that tactic. It was very smart inside fighting by Guerrero.
Holding is illegal. The ref is legally not suppose to separate fighters unless both hands are tied up, the fighters are suppose to fight themselves free. Guys like you dont know the rules, just spat bull**** they know nothing about. Learn the rules.
The ref was horrible. Guerrero took advantage of the situation perfectly though, at times he was abusing Berto on the inside.
Horrible reffing on both sides, and as someone already said, inconsistent from round to round. Still a good fight, thanks to the real stars: the fighters.
Oh shut up. The first knock down consisted of Guerrero holding one side of Berto's head with one hand while whacking it with the other. He was holding Berto's head to try and isolate it all fight. Robert even admitted to it when shown the vid of the first knockdown in the post-fight interview with Kellerman. You come up with some wild stories. When will you ever learn?
I did not say he wasn't holding. . . I said the ref sucked and you seem to agree with me. What I did say is that the Ghost grabbed him behind the head and hit him several times with the other. all infractions are not equal.