Joe Cortez chosen to work Calzaghe vs. Hopkins

Tunney · Post by **Tunney** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:25

The same ref who many thought was biased against the British fighter Hatton will be working Calzaghe vs. Hopkins: Joe Cortez.

http://www.BS.com

Even Roy Jones said Cortez was unfair to Hatton, although like most people he thought Mayweather would have won anyway. The silly booing of the American national anthem by British fans may have provoked Cortez...

If Cortez has some bias against British fighters, should he work this fight?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:27

Will he let Hopkins hit and hold?

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:30

Provided Joe uses the same rules, this is a bonus for Calzaghe as I envisage Bernie trying to hit and hold as much as possible.

As he did against Krispy Kreme Wright.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:33

Aye, this could really work for Joe - just as it did for Duran in his biggest win over Leonard. Padilla allowed Duran to brawl (and I say that in the most beautiful sense of the word), when a few months earlier he allowed Vito nowhere near Minter.
Or so the Yanks like to say.

Tunney · Post by **Tunney** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:52

Joe was quoted by BBC as saying hes delighted at the choice of Cortez, he said "I don't do holding and mauling," unlike Hopkins.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 26 Mar 2008, 12:53

Surely Cortez must be under some pressure (not sure from who) to put in a decent unbiassed performance this time, hopefully he's consistant with the way he reffed the Hatton fiasco

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 26 Mar 2008, 13:06

It's a bit worrying when a ref thinks he has to come up with a catchphrase - wonder how long Joe spent in front of the mirror before he settled on "Remember guys! I'm firm but I'm fair!!"

Mills Lane had the best one & they should have left it at that.

How long before some ref starts using the line "At my signal, unleash hell!!"

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 26 Mar 2008, 13:08

MightyWarrior wrote:It's a bit worrying when a ref thinks he has to come up with a catchphrase - wonder how long Joe spent in front of the mirror before he settled on "Remember guys! I'm firm but I'm fair!!"

Mills Lane had the best one & they should have left it at that.

How long before some ref starts using the line "At my signal, unleash hell!!"

"I'm the wefawee"

fist · Post by **fist** » 26 Mar 2008, 13:17

Ricky Hatton also said he was delighted when he found out Cortez was to be the ref

I suppose it shouldn't matter if it was just rough inside fighting that Cortez dislikes, but he ignored Mayweather's use of the elbow and was so blatant in stopping any early offence by Hatton, even when there was no holding at all, that I can't help feel that Cortez has a propensity to be biased.

We will know on the night I suppose. Though it really shouldn't make a huge difference. It made an impact on Hatton because's he only had one strategy and with thar hindered, had no plan B. Calzaghe is much more adaptable and can maul inside and out.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 26 Mar 2008, 15:29

fist wrote:Ricky Hatton also said he was delighted when he found out Cortez was to be the ref I suppose it shouldn't matter if it was just rough inside fighting that Cortez dislikes, but he ignored Mayweather's use of the elbow and was so blatant in stopping any early offence by Hatton, even when there was no holding at all, that I can't help feel that Cortez has a propensity to be biased.

We will know on the night I suppose. Though it really shouldn't make a huge difference. It made an impact on Hatton because's he only had one strategy and with thar hindered, had no plan B. Calzaghe is much more adaptable and can maul inside and out.

His ignorance of Mayweather's elbow worries me too, as Hopkins was terrible against Ronald for that.

It also worries me that Joe has said, word for word, what Ricky said.

I'm very superstitious