Who impressed the US most in Manchester?!?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 04 Apr 2004, 19:49

I've been reading a few forums and a lot of US posters are praising the display of referee Ian John Lewis regarding the Stewart vs Mitchell fight. People are impressed with how he kept the action flowing without, but when he was forced to break it was ALWAYS clean with nobody aloud to any dirties.

I don't know if that was his first proper world title fight (if you can call it that), but yes he did a good job. Hopefully he'll get some high profile work futher afield.

Well done Ian on a good job.

The Devil In Roy Jones · Post by **The Devil In Roy Jones** » 04 Apr 2004, 20:11

Ian John Lewis did excellent if that was his biggest fight to date. I was watching him closely in the opening rounds and I think it was Mitchell he warned first to keep his punches up. Mitchell gave a nod and from then on he seemed to have the respect of the fighters.

I love it when referee's let the action flow. Steve Smoger does it well in the USA, while others like Jay Nady frequently over-officiate and brake the rhythm of the action, trying to stamp their authority on the match (read: stamp their authority on TV screens).

I was a little disappointed in Dave Parris - who I think is one of the best the UK has got - at the weekend. I didn't think he acted scandalously or anything, just a bit questionable. He scored Mitchell - Stewart 117-109, which I thought was a tad generous to Stewart, though he did land some nice clean shots and if you are scoring for aggression then it's all gravy I suppose. I also thought the braveheart Pedersen may have had a case for complaining about an early stoppage, but in truth it was expectedly one-sided and I was personally glad it was stopped.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 05 Apr 2004, 05:31

I thought that too at first, until I watched a re-run.

Pedersen hardly landed a shot in anger in rounds 4 or 5, and was getting shaken increasingly with every shot. I guess Pariss figured he had seen enough, he has a reputation for finishing fights early, and I think he saved Pedersen, who incidentally looked like he had no problem at all with being stopped, from taking a beating.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 05 Apr 2004, 06:26

While I giggle at his attempt to do a Mills Lane with his 'I am the referee' line at the beginning of his pre-fight instructions, I think Ian is developing into a top-class referee. He weren't a bad fighter in his day if I remember and I can't remember seeing him have a mare. Good on him, it's good to see a relatively young man controlling a fight and like someone has already said, the sign of a good referee is when you don't even know he's there.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 05 Apr 2004, 06:37

IJL lost the plot a bit when it came to stopping Fesetchko against Richard Williams one time but all in all he does a grand job out there. And what a bloody tough job it is, such a fine line between getting it spot on and being miles off.

TT · Post by TT » 05 Apr 2004, 07:10

'I am the Wefewee'

I also thought Dave Parris did a good job and stopped the fight at the right time aswell

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 05 Apr 2004, 07:11

Says a lot for the quality of this show, when the main talking point is how a referee managed to do a competent job.

But saying that, I agree Lewis looked a world class ref, and Parris made a very humane stopage - there was absolutely no way the overmatched Danish lightweight needed any more hooks crashing into his head.

J · Post by J » 05 Apr 2004, 07:18

MightyWarrior wrote:Says a lot for the quality of this show, when the main talking point is how a referee managed to do a competent job.

But saying that, I agree Lewis looked a world class ref, and Parris made a very humane stopage - there was absolutely no way the overmatched Danish lightweight needed any more hooks crashing into his head.

Totally agree with the stoppages and reffing. Pedersen was abrave as they come though, obviously out muscelled and trying to survuve as long as possible. In doing that I thought he showed good heart and did his best kudos to him.
We saw what happens when a fighter doesnt want to know like Kizza. At least Pederson did his bit.