Legendary boxing referee Eddie a Cotton dies of COVID-19

[Ruthless-RKO]

By David Finger

Fightnews.com is sad to report the passing of one of boxing’s most esteemed referees: Eddie Cotton of New Jersey. Cotton died on the morning of April 17th of COVID-19 after having been hospitalized for over a week. Cotton was highly regarded in the boxing community having refereed hundreds of high profile fights since the early 1990s. He is remembered as the third man in the ring for the infamous Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golata rematch in December of 1996, the final fight of George Foreman in November of 1997 (when Foreman lost a controversial decision to Shannon Briggs), the Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson fight in June of 2002, as well as world title fights involving Wladimir Klitschko, Gennady Golovkin, and Bernard Hopkins among others.

“Boxing has lost another good man to #COVID_19.” Lou Dibella tweeted about the passing of Eddie Cotton. “One of the most well known and respected referees in the world, Eddie Cotton was also one of the nicest people in our sport.”

It was a sentiment shared amongst many in the sport of boxing.

“He was a great guy,” WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel said of Cotton, a regular attendee of the WBO Annual Convention and a frequent golf partner of Valcarcel during the annual convention. “He was a good referee and a great guy. He was my golf partner for a long time. We had a special relationship and a great friendship.”

Cotton was also a highly regarded community leader in Paterson, New Jersey. Cotton had served as the first black president of the Paterson City Council and also was the first black public works director in Paterson.

“Paterson has lost a legend,” Mayor Andre Sayegh was quoted as saying to the Paterson Times. “Ed Cotton was an accomplished boxing referee, a respected community leader, and a cherished friend.”

[gilgamesh]

Bowe vs Golota 2 was an awesome fight, tainted because of all the fouling and the DQ finish, but it's a wild fight while it lasts.

The main thing I remember Eddie Cotton for unfortunately for him is his blatant bias in the Tyson vs Lennox Lewis fight. One of the more obvious cases of a referee trying to help a fighter in a high profile fight.

He didn't succeed this time. Sometimes the ref actually makes a difference in these cases, with this he just costs Lennox a point, and prolonged Mike's beating by giving him extra time here and there, and that's about it.

There was a fighter named Eddie Cotton once too, not sure if it was this same guy or not.

Being a referee. People only remember when you do a questionable job, and not a good one most of the time. That's pretty much how I remember Cotton.

[Tony1244]

Except for Arthur Merconte. .

[gilgamesh]

Except for Arthur Merconte. .

Yeah I mean there's a few...very few referees who have that impeccable reputation of ALWAYS having done a good and credible job. But they're few and far between. Almost all of 'em screw up at least once.

Ican live with it when it just feels like genuine human error because I mean hey sh*t happens, but it bothers me when it seems like they're showing bias to one fighter or another.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It’s always easier remembering the bad than the good.

Always the case

[Tony1244]

Except for Arthur Merconte. .

Yeah I mean there's a few...very few referees who have that impeccable reputation of ALWAYS having done a good and credible job. But they're few and far between. Almost all of 'em screw up at least once.

Ican live with it when it just feels like genuine human error because I mean hey sh*t happens, but it bothers me when it seems like they're showing bias to one fighter or another.

Like Richard Steele.

[oogiebe]

It’s always easier remembering the bad than the good.

Always the case

That's human nature, I'm afraid. We're a negative species.

[oogiebe]

Yeah I mean there's a few...very few referees who have that impeccable reputation of ALWAYS having done a good and credible job. But they're few and far between. Almost all of 'em screw up at least once.

Ican live with it when it just feels like genuine human error because I mean hey sh*t happens, but it bothers me when it seems like they're showing bias to one fighter or another.

Like Richard Steele.

Funny! I hear his name and think of Meldrick Taylor/JCC. LOL!

Mills Lane was my fav.

[oogiebe]

Bowe vs Golota 2 was an awesome fight, tainted because of all the fouling and the DQ finish, but it's a wild fight while it lasts.

The main thing I remember Eddie Cotton for unfortunately for him is his blatant bias in the Tyson vs Lennox Lewis fight. One of the more obvious cases of a referee trying to help a fighter in a high profile fight.

He didn't succeed this time. Sometimes the ref actually makes a difference in these cases, with this he just costs Lennox a point, and prolonged Mike's beating by giving him extra time here and there, and that's about it.

There was a fighter named Eddie Cotton once too, not sure if it was this same guy or not.

Being a referee. People only remember when you do a questionable job, and not a good one most of the time. That's pretty much how I remember Cotton.

Boxer Eddie Cotton Jr. died in 1990. You have an incredible memory Gil.

[Tony1244]

Like Richard Steele.

Funny! I hear his name and think of Meldrick Taylor/JCC. LOL!

Mills Lane was my fav.

What's that Lane did with his nose? Was that an illuminati thing?

[oogiebe]

Funny! I hear his name and think of Meldrick Taylor/JCC. LOL!

Mills Lane was my fav.

What's that Lane did with his nose? Was that an illuminati thing?

Always wondered that.

[gilgamesh]

Bowe vs Golota 2 was an awesome fight, tainted because of all the fouling and the DQ finish, but it's a wild fight while it lasts.

The main thing I remember Eddie Cotton for unfortunately for him is his blatant bias in the Tyson vs Lennox Lewis fight. One of the more obvious cases of a referee trying to help a fighter in a high profile fight.

He didn't succeed this time. Sometimes the ref actually makes a difference in these cases, with this he just costs Lennox a point, and prolonged Mike's beating by giving him extra time here and there, and that's about it.

There was a fighter named Eddie Cotton once too, not sure if it was this same guy or not.

Being a referee. People only remember when you do a questionable job, and not a good one most of the time. That's pretty much how I remember Cotton.

Boxer Eddie Cotton Jr. died in 1990. You have an incredible memory Gil.

When it comes to boxing minutia at least.

[oogiebe]

Boxer Eddie Cotton Jr. died in 1990. You have an incredible memory Gil.

When it comes to boxing minutia at least.

No doubt. Many claim they have great boxing memory ,but you never cease to amaze.

[RScarf1]

I talked to Eddie Cotton at the IBF convention in 2017. This is sad news. I hope the world overcomes the virus by next month.

[Paci]

R.i.p

[Enlightened-One]

I prefer adhere to social death etiquette, by believing that no one should speak ill of the dead.

We’re all human and imperfect. And there’s nothing constructive about criticising a dead person. Only petty small-minded mentally deranged individuals believe otherwise.

If I can’t think of anything positive to say about the recently deceased, then I choose to remain silent, whilst allowing others to grieve and reminisce all their positive memories of the person that passed.

Perhaps those that submitted negative thoughts in this thread should follow my example?

RIP Eddie Cotton.

[Tony1244]

Except for Arthur Merconte. .

Yeah I mean there's a few...very few referees who have that impeccable reputation of ALWAYS having done a good and credible job. But they're few and far between. Almost all of 'em screw up at least once.

Ican live with it when it just feels like genuine human error because I mean hey sh*t happens, but it bothers me when it seems like they're showing bias to one fighter or another.

Watching Ali-Foreman on ESPN now. Clayton was very biased towards Ali IMO.

[Impractical Poster]

RIP Eddie.

TBH, The way they are reporting coronavirus deaths, Eddie could have died of anything.

[gilgamesh]

Yeah I mean there's a few...very few referees who have that impeccable reputation of ALWAYS having done a good and credible job. But they're few and far between. Almost all of 'em screw up at least once.

Ican live with it when it just feels like genuine human error because I mean hey sh*t happens, but it bothers me when it seems like they're showing bias to one fighter or another.

Watching Ali-Foreman on ESPN now. Clayton was very biased towards Ali IMO.

I never really caught any bias in that fight one way or the other. I've seen it quite a bit. Closest thing to it I guess is that when Foreman goes down in the 8th, the referee counts to 9, and Foreman gets up right at 9, but the ref waves it off.

That being said, Foreman offered no protest, and just walks to his corner. I think he knew he was beaten, and even if the fight had continued he was going right back down again.

[margaret thatcher]

RIP Eddie.

TBH, The way they are reporting coronavirus deaths, Eddie could have died of anything.

You think they got some conspiracy over reporting thing going on ? I've seen some boxers say the government is just trying to scare us, like Crawford, Khan, Steve 'Flat Earth' Cunningham, I wonder if there is any truth to that

[oogiebe]

I prefer adhere to social death etiquette, by believing that no should not speak ill of the dead.

We’re all human and imperfect. And there’s nothing constructive about criticising a dead person. Only petty small-minded mentally deranged individuals believe otherwise.

If I can’t think of anything positive to say about the recently deceased, then I choose to remain silent, whilst allowing others to grieve and reminisce all their positive memories of the person that passed.

Perhaps those that submitted negative thoughts in this thread should follow my example?

RIP Eddie Cotton.

I'd bet that has never happened. Ever. Pompous arse.

[dookus]

RIP Eddie.

TBH, The way they are reporting coronavirus deaths, Eddie could have died of anything.

You think they got some conspiracy over reporting thing going on ? I've seen some boxers say the government is just trying to scare us, like Crawford, Khan, Steve 'Flat Earth' Cunningham, I wonder if there is any truth to that

I doubt it. What's the point?

[squiggy]

No reason to drag the conspiracy horseshit into the thread. A primary way that deadly viruses kill is by exacerbating pre-existing health problems, of which virtually all older people have at least one.

[Enlightened-One]

I prefer adhere to social death etiquette, by believing that no one should speak ill of the dead.

We’re all human and imperfect. And there’s nothing constructive about criticising a dead person. Only petty small-minded mentally deranged individuals believe otherwise.

If I can’t think of anything positive to say about the recently deceased, then I choose to remain silent, whilst allowing others to grieve and reminisce all their positive memories of the person that passed.

Perhaps those that submitted negative thoughts in this thread should follow my example?

RIP Eddie Cotton.

I'd bet that has never happened. Ever. Pompous arse.

Do you know what “pompous” means?

Do the words in the post above offend you somehow? If so, then please explain the reason why?

[oogiebe]

I'd bet that has never happened. Ever. Pompous arse.

Do you know what “pompous” means?

Do the words in the post above offend you somehow? If so, then please explain the reason why?

No one here needs you to lecture. You are a pompous and self-aggrandizing oaf. It's sad you can't see that. Try therapy.