Thomas Hauser, Eddie Goldman on Joe Cortez

[theguru]

Hatton had Vann and Paris as his favourite referees Mayweather had Cortez thats the way the cookie crumbles

[don't call it a comeback]

The fight pitched two polar opposite but perfectly suited styles together. We all commented how well there styles would gel and mesh to produce a really entertaining and absorbing battle.

I feel Cortez robbed boxing of that fight, he may not have robbed Hatton of a victory but he prevented him making a fist of it and he spoilt my enjoyment of the bout by intervening unfairly.

Spot on

He prevented Hatton from holding, grappling and ultimately spoiling. Hatton has increasingly relied on these tactics in the last 24 months or so. I for one thought Cortez did adequately well. He was not perfect but he did not act outside the letter of the boxing law.

Its not about holding or spoiling for Hatton - thats way off. Mayweather was the one holding. For Hatton it was about getting close then moving slightly back and getting off his shots. Hatton is one of the best at fighting out of the clinch. I'm not into criticising the ref - and ultimately Ricky's lack of a plan b was his undoing - but Cortez was beyond bad in the context of the fight. The refs in Lewis v Tyson and Ottke v Reid were the ones who spring to mind and they were complete amateurs.

Cortez deserves all the criticism he gets in my book.