Fight Franchise

You constantly hear boxers, announcers, and promoters saying "styles make fights." And of course it's a valid point. I suggest that styles aren't necessarily more important than heart or luck, but one of the most overlooked aspects of a fight is actually the referee. Till he screws up, that is.
The referee has a huge impact on the game and can actually dictate style in any given match. Breaking guys apart too often can ruin a boxer's inside efforts. Yelling in their ears the whole fight is certainly a distraction. And not to mention their power to stop a fight at any time...

Some of the refs we see or have seen:
Joe Cortez
Judge Mills Lane
Steve Smoger
Tony Weeks
Ruby Goldstein
Jay Nady
Arthur Mercante Sr. and Jr.
Randy Neumann
Richard Steele
Mitch Halpern
Jon D. Schorle II
Mickey Vann
Jersey Joe Walcott
Eddie Cotton
Jack McGuigan
Kenny Bayless


So when you hear a big fight is happening, which ref do you think "oh, he'll be fair", or which ref makes (made) you just a little queasy? Why?

In addition, which ref from the past would you like to see as the third man still today?

Although i´m a huge RJJ-fan and i was really glad that he beat John Ruiz, i really think that Jay Nady was a great help for Jones. If Ruiz would´ve been allowed to work like he did in almost any other fight, the fight could´ve been much closer.

Actually i like the way Robert Byrd handles his fights.

From the past i always liked Mills Lane. It was impressive to see the small guy handling those big heavies.

The ref in the Danny williams fight on Friday certainly made the fight more interesting than it would have been

My tip is

Alfredo Garcia Perez to referee the big money TV fights in the US. Just imagine the carnage with titles and millions on the line.

I agree with this topic and think Steve Smoger is among the few today who affect fights for the better. The number of fights that he has been involved in that have won or been candidates for FOY are too many to name.

Joe Cortez has fallen far from his status a decade or more ago when he was the best in the biz. Now it seems he's more concerened about getting the airtime to state his catch phrase and I'm dreading the day when a fighter wrenches his knee at the end of the round because Joe feels the need to jump in and tackle a fighter.

Jay Nady should be demoted to 6 round fights again till he can get his act straight, IMO.

Steve Smoger for me. A truely Great referee, it will be a sad day for boxing when he retires.

no Carlos Padilla?

i would prefer a prime Padilla to handle big fights nowadays.

he gives justice to the craft during his heydays as the third man in the ring...