Its Steve Smoger the best boxing refere ?

[Artani]

Its Steve Smoger the best boxing refere ?

I think yes .

[brooklyn1550]

I like Joe Cortez and Kenny Bayless the best, but Smoger is right behind them.

[madjabber]

I like Joe Cortez and Kenny Bayless the best, but Smoger is right behind them.

My exact thoughts also Mercante jr is good to.

[JETSKI]

My exact thoughts also Mercante jr is good to.

You guys are on the ball. Theres your top 4 right there.

[Thread Stealer]

Joe Cortez is shot.

He hasn't been a good ref in years.

Smoger and Bayless are tops.

[theunderdog]

yeah, i think cortez is getting old. i like bayless more

[Slothrop]

I've always liked Frank Cappuccino.

[He Hate Me]

Smoger is my personal favorite. I also like Nady, he gets a lot of negativity shot his way but I like how he can take charge in there. Problem with him is that he fucks up big when it comes to the big fights.

Cortez is also a great ref, but he lost a lot of my respect because of how he handled the Hopkins - Allen fight a while back.

He looks rediculous when he salutes b4 fights, I give him a pass because he does it in honor of soldiers in harms way.

[TheGoldenBoy#1]

I like bayless too.

[achillesthegreat]

Smoger is a very good ref. Doesn't get too involved, he lets them fight.

[dragosuhail]

i like smoger, bayless and sometimes nady when he doesn't get the urge to tell fighters what punch they should throw next, or warn a fighter about holding BEFORE he does. :rofl

i also like that draculich fella. his name seems very dracula-like, and he LOOKS like dracula too! i think that's cool :lol:

[Dojo]

What, Sparkle Lee gets no mention?!:D

[The Kurgan]

Smoger is an excellent ref: doesn't get involved, stops fights at the perfect moments, and yet all the time seems in total control. He doesn't have twitchy fingers to take away points, but usually just gives boxers his "angry dwarf" look and they behave.

I like Arthur Mercante Jnr. for the same reasons. Like Smoger, he's like a more compassionate update of the old-school refs, who were practically just timekeepers.

The only complaint I'd have of these refs and all American referees is that they don't let the action go on for long enough on the inside. Back in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, the infighting game was pretty much dominated by Americans and barely found in Europe. These days, European countries like the UK have the most infighting going on, which is one of the reasons it took a while for Hatton to adjust to boxing in America.

In the UK, Micky Vann is good: he never stops it too early, doesn't panic when corners throw in the towel, and doesn't get involved much. When he does get involved, he totally takes charge: rarely did refs control Bruno or Lewis; Vann took charge over both after his infamous "I don't want no shit" speech. That was pretty much the last time there was any flagarant fouling in a fight between two pretty dirty boxers.

[achillesthegreat]

Agreed Kurg.

American refs stop the action too quick. Our top fighters - Hatton and Calzaghe are class infighters. Even Woods is good.

British refs are AWFUL when it comes to stopping fights. They just jump in immediately. I suppose its bred in them from things like McClellan, Watson, Ingle etc Many high profile injuries.

Smoger is a good ref. A ref should be like a ghost, non existent.

[pipe wrenched]

What, Sparkle Lee gets no mention?!:D

:lol: :lol:
But in all honesty, she did a good job. I can't think of any complaints on the one time we've seen her.

[jexdd]

Richard Steele :patsch

[Caper]

My personal favorites

1. Smoger
2. Tony Weeks
3. Mercante Jr.

[China_hand_Joe]

Why on earth are people mentioning Joe Cortez?

He lets fighters take silly levels of unrequired pain and damage.

[He Hate Me]

i like smoger, bayless and sometimes nady when he doesn't get the urge to tell fighters what punch they should throw next, or warn a fighter about holding BEFORE he does. :rofl

i also like that draculich fella. his name seems very dracula-like, and he LOOKS like dracula too! i think that's cool :lol::yep

[AG11]

Smoger is a great referee. It also doesn't hurt that he looks a lot like Uncle Leo from Seinfeld.

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My one friend always says when he sees him "ohh, nice! Uncle Leo is reffing!"

[Caper]

i like smoger, bayless and sometimes nady when he doesn't get the urge to tell fighters what punch they should throw next, or warn a fighter about holding BEFORE he does. :rofl

i also like that draculich fella. his name seems very dracula-like, and he LOOKS like dracula too! i think that's cool :lol:

He probably got in the biz to satisfy he blood thirst by sipping on fighters spit buckets, mouth guards and stained towels after every bout.:think

[marting]

Smoger is a highly competent ref.

He doesn't interfere with the flow of the action but he watches the fight very closely from an excellent vantage point. He's never out of position because he keeps a distance that allows him to see what's going on. If he sees a foul he reacts quickly and issues a clear stern warning and makes sure the fighters hear him. This makes sure that the fight doesn't descend into a foul fest like the Hatton Tszyu fight.

[Caper]

Smoger is a highly competent ref.

He doesn't interfere with the flow of the action but he watches the fight very closely from an excellent vantage point. He's never out of position because he keeps a distance that allows him to see what's going on. If he sees a foul he reacts quickly and issues a clear stern warning and makes sure the fighters hear him. This makes sure that the fight doesn't descend into a foul fest like the Hatton Tszyu fight.

Smoger keeps the fighters in the loop lets them know if he's thinking about stopping the fight.

One of my favorite moments in a smoger ref'ed fight is durning the Cotto v Malanaggi bout when Smoger tells Paulie in the 11th or 12th round "Dance Paulie dance"

Did Smoger do Tito vs Joppy?

[Big Ears]

Smoger is a very good ref , but Bayless is number one for me .

I have to agree with the point of American refs not allowing infighting .

[KobeIsGod]

im partial to Randy Newman. It almost turns into an MMA fight. He allows everything :yep

[Doomas]

I like how smoger reminds fighters to keep their hands up after breaking them up. Great refere.

[Thread Stealer]

Did Smoger do Tito vs Joppy?

Mercante Jr.

[Caper]

Mercante Jr.

Sweet....

I remember the ref about to step in and break up the fighters when Tito decided to shove Joppy with his shoulder and smash his face with a right hand. Mercante had the chance to go in and break it up but he saw Tito was going to create the distance with a shoulder, great anticipation.

[Artani]

Thanks guys who give your idea for great refere Smoger. I cant understand some here who saying that he is not great refere . Smoger refere more than 70 championship world fights. He is hall of fame refere.

[the_what]

Smoger is a good ref. Unless you are the fighter thats getting KTFO. He tends to let fight go on longer than they need to be.

My favorite is Tony Weeks. He never does anything wrong, and he has the best haircut in boxing. :yep