Worst ever refereeing displays?

[Poncey]

There's a black dude in America with a girl's name that I rate. His name is weird, something like Sparkle.

There's also a lass that's started reffing male fights in America that's also quite good.

[Captain Hook]

Sparkle Moonbeam?

[banjo]

There is a female ref called Sparkle Lee

[Poncey]

I had a feeling her name was Sparkle. I remember laughing at the time and then thinking "Aaah, bless".

[jamesmcdonnell]

And Steel was right to end the Chavez/Taylor fight - Taylor had taken a HELL of a beating in there, swallowing blood round after round - in fact Steel's actions there turned the fight in to an all time legendary night, a back from the brink win never to be forgoten.

Judah by comparison, had taken about ONE punch all night.

Selective memory methinks. Tszyu was nailing him with rights hands prior to that, and how could a referee allow someone who has just fallen all over the ring like that, and who cannot stand still because their legs are buggered carry on.

Tszyu would have annihilated Judah the next round anyway.

Worst ref jobs for me are.

Jack Reiss, in some minor title fight, where he allowed the champion to take almost three whole rounds of punishment when he was totally out on his feet, before finally stopping it.

and

Roger 'Remember you're a womble' Tillerman, who did the most biased and corrupt bit of refereeing I think I've ever seen in Reid v Ottke.

[Poncey]

Dave Barry for Tunney v Dempsey 2.

[josh fg]

Ian John Lewis lost control in Harrison vs Negus... just thought I'd through that one out there.

[Coco]

Ian John Lewis lost control in Harrison vs Negus... just thought I'd through that one out there.

Ian John Lewis is a damn good ref tho, everyone has off nights and that one was hard to handle

[THEBUTCH]

Most recently Joe Cortez for Hatton-Mayweather. Terrible officiating.

As for Zab Judah, he was all over the place and had no control over his body, the referee had no choice at all but to stop the fight there and then. I'd have been appalled if Nady had let it go any further.

[Dioufy]

Nady needed to count to 10 and give Judah a chance to at least recover - his legs were gone because he got up too early. He should've been given a chance to beat the count.

[Poncey]

I agree. I really need to see the ending of this fight as I can't remember whether it was the end of the round, or not.

[Captain Hook]

I agree. I really need to see the ending of this fight as I can't remember whether it was the end of the round, or not.

You can see arguments for both sides but in hindsight he did seem ok about 4-5 seconds after it was stopped.

But then that's hindsight. He was all over the place before it

Tzsyu would have caught him eventually.

[Dioufy]

I think it was near the end of the round.

[Captain Hook]

Yes it was near the end of the round, Judah had looked good in spells before it but Tszyu caught up with him - didn't take long......

[banjo]

Yeah I saw that, the guy has had his day. where are the good YOUNG referees?

Mitch Halpern was always my favourite...

Is Mitch Halpern the one who killed himself?

[Captain Hook]

I agree. I really need to see the
ending of this fight as I can't remember whether it was the end of the
round, or not.

You can see arguments for both sides but in hindsight he did seem ok about 4-5 seconds after it was stopped.

But then that's hindsight. He was all over the place before it

Tzsyu would have caught him eventually.

I think Zab's considered post-stoppage reaction clearly showed he was back in contact with his senses. He even offered Nady a chair so they could sit down and discuss it.

:) What a little punk he was.....then again I'd love to see someone smash Nady, or put one of those gloves over his head and blow it up.....

[Poncey]

Yeah I saw that, the guy has had his day. where are the good YOUNG referees?

Mitch Halpern was always my favourite...

Is Mitch Halpern the one who killed himself?

Do you mean Richard Greene that killed himself after the Mancini fight?

[banjo]

Yeah I saw that, the guy has had his day. where are the good YOUNG referees?

Mitch Halpern was always my favourite...

Is Mitch Halpern the one who killed himself?

Do you mean Richard Greene that killed himself after the Mancini fight?

No, I'm think I remember seeing an article about Halpern but I'm not 100%.

I'll do some googling and find out.

[banjo]

According to wikipedia Halpern shot himself on 20/08/00

[Captain Hook]

Yeah he killed himelf, wasn't even 40 yet was he? Great little ref, the Tyson camp didn't want him after the Holyfield match did they?

[chesh]

I think he was only early-mid 30s. Killed himself after an argument with his girlfriend. What a waste.

[cavebear57]

I have to say Frank Cappucino always wound me up. I remember he refereed a Lennox Lewis fight in the late nineties and actually told Lennox off for turning a fighter whilst in a clinch! Lennox looked at him as though he were mad. Cortez really sticks in my neck after the grief he gave Hatton against Mayweather and then did the complete opposite on Calzaghe/Hopkins. If was like he was afraid to tell Hopkins off. I dont call that fair but firm. I thought Nady was right with Judah as his legs had gone. Chavez/Taylor is mentionned a lot here and i have heard about it, but never seen it. Richard Steele used to or maybe still does own a gym used by trainers of pro boxers so when he was referreeing wasn't that a conflict of interest? The Ottke/Reid fight had diabolical refereeing.

[Coco]

Saying that I can't think of anything which was worse than the recent Williams fight

[Twinkle Toes]

No one has mentioned Terry O'Conner - Those boys on the continent are bad, but Big Terry must be the worst British ref, although to be fair I think he has improved a lot of late.

Mickey Vann is also one of the best home refs around

If anyone can recall Armand Krief, he was bad.

[Stocks]

Can't believe the ref that stopped Lewis against McCall hasn't been mentioned