Howard Foster

[jameswilson]

Anyone else think he did a really good job reffing the Fury fight? With the criticism some refs have taken over the years I just thought I'd say it. Took a point off Fury rather than just keep on giving warnings and also at the start of the 9th or the 10th told both fighters to pick it up after a quiet round previous.

Good job Mr Foster.

[stevieb_8006]

Honestly no. Respect ur opinion but feel he always overdoes it like hes trying to make a name for himself. Seen him go overboard reading the riot act when it's not warranted on quite a few occasions now, like he's desperate to portray himself as "no nonsense". Just overeggs it for me personally. It's not like furys faux pas were massively effecting the outcome of the rounds. There was no need to interrupt the cornerwork either.

I will give him credit for telling the fighters that they are paid to fight so get on with it.

Nothing personal, different strokes and all that. Respect ur opinion.

[Tykemania]

I go the other way, I reckon he was pretty good at keeping things moving cleanly last night without becoming the centre of attention

[the truth]

I think he's crap too

[rhino222]

does a good job, affable character too. i thought he reffed it well and was happy to deduct fury despite the home crowd.

[JLP]

I think Foster is a good ref. Fury deserved the point deduction last night. He lets fights flow and I disagree that he tries to make a name for himself.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I feel asleep around the 9th round from what I saw he dished out a few warnings but nothing too dramatic.

[jameswilson]

What do people think is getting too involved then? I personally think if one of the boxers punches on the back of the head in the clinch or smacks someone when the ref has shouted break and it's fairly clear it's deliberate then give a warning. On the second warning make it clear that one more of the same infringement and it's a point off and from there take a point off. That is as far as I could see it what Foster did and after that Fury didn't infringe again.

The one fight that really did my nut in was Skelton v Williams I. Skelton must have had about 20 warnings for headbutting, rabbit punching, holding the back of the head whilst punching with the other hand, all sorts. And all O'Connor seemed to do was keep giving warnings. You have to draw the line somewhere I think.

[Howard Foster]

Honestly no. Respect ur opinion but feel he always overdoes it like hes trying to make a name for himself. Seen him go overboard reading the riot act when it's not warranted on quite a few occasions now, like he's desperate to portray himself as "no nonsense". Just overeggs it for me personally. It's not like furys faux pas were massively effecting the outcome of the rounds. There was no need to interrupt the cornerwork either.

I will give him credit for telling the fighters that they are paid to fight so get on with it.

Nothing personal, different strokes and all that. Respect ur opinion.

Never interupted with the corner as i remember

[The Insider]

Howard is currently the best referee we have at the moment (and is one of the best in the world) imo . I can't remember off hand the last time he had a bad night. Nothing wrong with his performance Friday and did a good job. We could do with another 10 of him.

[stevieb_8006]

Honestly no. Respect ur opinion but feel he always overdoes it like hes trying to make a name for himself. Seen him go overboard reading the riot act when it's not warranted on quite a few occasions now, like he's desperate to portray himself as "no nonsense". Just overeggs it for me personally. It's not like furys faux pas were massively effecting the outcome of the rounds. There was no need to interrupt the cornerwork either.

I will give him credit for telling the fighters that they are paid to fight so get on with it.

Nothing personal, different strokes and all that. Respect ur opinion.

Never interupted with the corner as i remember

I'd have to rewatch the fight but i believe during 1 of the later rounds you warned fury about the forearm/elbow quite sternly and then during the break felt it warranted another reminder during peter furys cornerwork. Just didnt feel it was uncalled for as he acknowledged your point and didnt complain.

Fairplay for coming on here tho, as i said, nothing personal, its what you prefer in a ref individually. u obv have a lot of supporters on here.

[Datsue]

I thought he was fvcking brilliant.

Fury showed his immaturity, wouldn't listen to warnings, wanted to act the knob in there, so Foster told him he was gonna get tough if he kept it up, then he took a point.

It's what a fvcking referee's for, FFS.

All that leaning & holding bullshit drives me nuts at heavyweight. It's boxing, not wrestling.

PS: Steve you are talking absolute bullshit. Fury might've stopped Johnson with a "British style" referee. I was massively happy to see the favourite held to the same rules as the visitor, for once. & yes, a fair referee imposing the rules with impartiality will get him a lot of fans. Bizarre that.

PPS: Just seen that you've posted in the thread, Mr Foster! Respect mate. Brilliant job. It's an international fight & frankly you did us proud. Nothing fvcking worse than officiating that's lenient on the homeboy.

[stevieb_8006]

I thought he was fvcking brilliant.

Fury showed his immaturity, wouldn't listen to warnings, wanted to act the knob in there, so Foster told him he was gonna get tough if he kept it up, then he took a point.

It's what a fvcking referee's for, FFS.

All that leaning & holding bullshit drives me nuts at heavyweight. It's boxing, not wrestling.

PS: Steve you are talking absolute bullshit. Fury might've stopped Johnson with a "British style" referee. I was massively happy to see the favourite held to the same rules as the visitor, for once. & yes, a fair referee imposing the rules with impartiality will get him a lot of fans. Bizarre that.

PPS: Just seen that you've posted in the thread, Mr Foster! Respect mate. Brilliant job. It's an international fight & frankly you did us proud. Nothing fvcking worse than officiating that's lenient on the homeboy.

I have a right to an opinion as much as you have, as i said, different strokes for different folks. if u like the heavier handed method of reffing then thats fine. Made a point of saying its nothing personal.

Howard, i have just replied to your PM. (which is reassuring to receive i must admit, proving you genuinely care what the fans think) .

Please people, dont jump all over me simply cos Howards joined the thread, there were quite a few posters agreeing with me in Quixalls thread on the night.The lad who posts under "the truth" and another "dalcumly" off the top of my head so im not a lone voice. My pet hate is when users suck up to "industry" posters on here. The thread asked for opinions, i gave mine. Its not a crime. I have recieved a polite, mature PM from Howard and have replied accordingly.

[crusader]

I thought he did fine.

[Counter-puncher]

I thought he was fvcking brilliant.

Fury showed his immaturity, wouldn't listen to warnings, wanted to act the knob in there, so Foster told him he was gonna get tough if he kept it up, then he took a point.

It's what a fvcking referee's for, FFS.

All that leaning & holding bullshit drives me nuts at heavyweight. It's boxing, not wrestling.

PS: Steve you are talking absolute bullshit. Fury might've stopped Johnson with a "British style" referee. I was massively happy to see the favourite held to the same rules as the visitor, for once. & yes, a fair referee imposing the rules with impartiality will get him a lot of fans. Bizarre that.

PPS: Just seen that you've posted in the thread, Mr Foster! Respect mate. Brilliant job. It's an international fight & frankly you did us proud. Nothing fvcking worse than officiating that's lenient on the homeboy.

i have always thought Mr Foster to be one of our best, if not our best.

[Adamj1987]

I've always liked his non-nonsense approach, follow the rules and he wont have to say anything.

this makes me laugh if a ref gives warning he is out for a name and over meddles but if he doesnt say anything he is in the fighters/promoters pocket.

howard if you read this keep up the good work, don't listen to any of this criticism as in a few weeks you will be criticised for the opposite.

[stevieb_8006]

I've always liked his non-nonsense approach, follow the rules and he wont have to say anything.

this makes me laugh if a ref gives warning he is out for a name and over meddles but if he doesnt say anything he is in the fighters/promoters pocket.

howard if you read this keep up the good work, don't listen to any of this criticism as in a few weeks you will be criticised for the opposite.

to be fair u are right, they are a bit damned if they do, damned if they dont. As I said, it depends what u like.

[Arniesgym]

Top ref is Howard

[The_Don1]

A lot of ref's deservedly get criticised on here, Howard Foster is an excellent ref best one in the UK IMO

[Datsue]

I have a right to an opinion as much as you have, as i said, different strokes for different folks. if u like the heavier handed method of reffing then thats fine. Made a point of saying its nothing personal.

Howard, i have just replied to your PM. (which is reassuring to receive i must admit, proving you genuinely care what the fans think) .

Please people, dont jump all over me simply cos Howards joined the thread, there were quite a few posters agreeing with me in Quixalls thread on the night.The lad who posts under "the truth" and another "dalcumly" off the top of my head so im not a lone voice. My pet hate is when users suck up to "industry" posters on here. The thread asked for opinions, i gave mine. Its not a crime. I have recieved a polite, mature PM from Howard and have replied accordingly.

Uh... As I spent last week arguing with all & sundry who were defending the actions of a certain cameraman of everyone's acquaintance, I don't think I "suck up" to anyone on here (apart from Lenny, natch. But he's Lenny FFS). So that's a straw man argument from the off.

I was however vehemently disagreeing with your take on the officiating in the fight, Steve. What would you like a ref to do when one fighter (the home fighter) is fouling & infringing the rules? If both are fvcking about I think a certain leeway is called for, but when only one guys doing it the ref's gotta take a stand imo. Do you think Fury would've stopped fouling if he didn't keep getting told off, then get a point taken off? D'you think he'd've kept doing the stupid wannabe-Klitschko lean down & sex-hold thing? 'Cos I do!

Riddle me this: in what way was the refereeing unfair? How could it have improved either the fair officiating of the fight or the fight as a spectacle? If he wasn't being strict (which is what I want from a ref, impartial, strict & attentive--like an ex-girlfriend I used to have!) Fury would've kept on elbowing & leaning in & mauling & yes might've stopped Johnson.

But it wouldn't have been fair mate. & also, it would've been a fvcking eyesore.

Apologies if my reaction to your opinion upsets you, I don't have anything against you personally, it just seems mega-wrong when a bloke gives the sort of performance that can make British officiating look professional & impartial & not completely bent to the rest of the world (with the Septics watching as well) & then not give him credit. We knock our officials when they fvck up--quite rightly.

Mr Foster didn't fvck up. He did a bang-up job. What exactly were the nature of your complaints? Are they rules based? Or aesthetic? Or what?

Not being funny at all, just can't really see what more you'd want from a ref than enforcing the rules clearly & not taking any shit from anyone.

[dondada]

Howard's the man

[Datsue]

So, did Foster go to the corner more than once, or just before the 12th, which he is supposed to do?

Can't strictly remember, bruv.

I just never thought, watching that, "Gawd this ref's ruining the fight/doing something annoying".

He was instead stopping the fighters from ruining the fight/doing something annoying, & he was fair about it. That's all I really ask, & am just shocked that anyone could disapprove of such obvious competency & straightness.

We see some bloody disasters in the British ring, but that was a performance that gave me hope (strange to be talking about a ref like that, but there you go...).

[Datsue]

So, did Foster go to the corner more than once, or just before the 12th, which he is supposed to do?

I would add, in the vein of James's summation above (nice post James!) that rabbit-punching, elbowing & hitting on the break are fouls. Different situation if both are getting stuck in. When one bloke isn't--for whatever reason, ethical or other!--the ref should say something.

& if a fella's ignoring the ref's orders (& frankly there were times when I worried Fury was frustrated/keyed up enough he was gonna get himself thrown out) then it's perfectly fine for a ref to use his judgement to go tell the bloke to calm the fvck down, particularly if that ref has already given official warnings & taken a point.

The way I see it, the ref making a name for himself would be to disqualify quickly to prove some sort of "hard nut" point.

You can be a disciplinarian without throwing your weight around & throwing dudes out, & I thought Howard did brilliantly in keeping control of the fight.

[stujones]

So, did Foster go to the corner more than once, or just before the 12th, which he is supposed to do?

Can't strictly remember, bruv.

I just never thought, watching that, "Gawd this ref's ruining the fight/doing something annoying".

He was instead stopping the fighters from ruining the fight/doing something annoying, & he was fair about it. That's all I really ask, & am just shocked that anyone could disapprove of such obvious competency & straightness.

We see some bloody disasters in the British ring, but that was a performance that gave me hope (strange to be talking about a ref like that, but there you go...).

Yep, if you cannot remember if the ref was good then the he did do a good job. You only recall the bad refereeing moments. For me Foster did a good job on Saturday, cause I cannot remember him making any errors.

We have far more worst refereeing / judging performances than Foster on Saturday.

On a side, what is this now with the ref waiting before making a decision. Before both the Flintoff and the Eubank Jnr fights we didn't know who won before the MC made the announcement. Is that a new BBBoC ruling or just TV companies trying to make it more exciting. Personally, I think the raising of the hand straight away makes it more exciting.... "oh he's given it to Bugner".

Final thing about refereeing has anyone seen an incident in which the ref cannot remember his score total before the final round - so has to look before lifting up the hand.

[billy nelson]

Howard is on of the top refs if not the best in the uk