Roach wants Cortez as ref! By Nick Giongco Joe Cortez, the New York-born Puerto Rican referee, is the one being eyed by Freddie Roach to referee the May 2 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, the celebrated trainer from Hollywood told Manila Bulletin on Wednesday. “Cortez is strict and he will not allow Hatton’s excessive holding,†Roach said. But since Hatton’s people and fans thought that Cortez’ penchant to break up fighters will not suit the Briton’s attacking style, he won’t be surprised if Cortez’s name will not be on a list that will be submitted for appointment. “They (Hatton’s people) blamed Cortez for that loss,†said Roach. The identity of the referee and the three judges won’t be known until the final two weeks of the fight but Roach has an option. “If Cortez is not appointed, there’s Jay Nady, who is also strict like Cortez and who won’t allow too much holding.†Roach has been widely quoted that Hatton’s does a lot of holding during in-fighting and he is working hard with Pacquiao to prevent that from taking place in the actual fight. Still, Roach can’t help but express his concern over the choice of the third man on the ring.
Cortez only lets fellow Puerto Ricans hold as much as they want in fights. The pale Englishman will have no chances to clutch and grind the little Filipino into a fine powdery dust with "Firm But Fair (If you're a boricua)" in the drivers seat for this fight. :nono:
Yeah,.. Im all for enforcing the rules and cracking down on holding,... but this corrupt old bastard is biased as all hell, one of the very worst referee's in the sport,.. and very 'useable' for house events.
Hatton likes referees to break up his holding, seeing as how he doesn't know how to fight inside. What cannot be allowed to happen is Hatton's holding and hitting when he's inside. Or his holding for the sole purpose of catching his breath or taking a break. It's not enough for a referee to simply break the fighters everytime they hold. That doesn't solve the problem. And it's not enough obviously for him to allow a fighter to continually hold his opponent. What the referee is supposed to do is give fighters warnings each time they hold until such time as takin away points is appropriate. Only then does holding no longer become a factor in the fight. Take Malignaggi/Ndou I. Everytime Ndou got close, Malignaggi held him, the referee immediately broke them apart, and Paulie was immediately afforded the advantage of fighting the fight from the outside. Hatton's MO is to lunge in, hit his guy, and then hold him (he has no defense). So breaking clinches immediately won't necessarily favor Pacquiao. It will set the stage for Hatton to pot-shot and then maul Pacquiao all night. And if Hatton's holding is allowed to persist (the clinches are not broken) then Hatton will engage in his usual holding and hitting with his head in Pacquiao's chest, one of Pacquiao's arms clinched by one of Hatton's, and Hatton beating away with his free hand. That can't be allowed to happen either. What needs to happen is for neither fighter to be allowed to hold period.
yeah it's funny that referees don't enforce the rules and that as a result we're treated to one stinky fight after another, and many cases of the better fighter losing as a result. our only consolation is that fighters at 130 and down tend not to hold and so great fights continue to get made. but sadly, a vast majority of fights at 140 and above are interrupted and their entertainment value compromised by the referee's willingness to not enforce the rules. ::::
Thats why I carry the holy cross around in my avatar now,.. I didnt know this ghastly place was filled with so many demons,..
....he might want him as ref, but i am not sure if coming out and telling everyone that you do is the smartest thing i like Kenny Bayless....give it to him
If it's not a minor why's she wearing a nappy you freak?. This one's worse than your last,.. you never get the 'settings' right.
Of course it matters. Because the ref can let him foul his way to victory. Igf the ref does his job and stops the holding this fight is a very easy fight for Manny and Roach knows it.
Cortez normally a consistant referee, had an off night in the Mayweather-Hatton fight. Overlooking countless elbows and forearms in Hattons face. There was suggestion the the respected referee had become star-biased. If true it would make him a perfect choice for the Manny camp. Before I get in trouble with Mayweather fans that will say Mayweather never used his elbows, I recommend watching this highlight film http://www.megaupload.com/?d=48MPDIW6
Hatton hates Cortez and blames him for the Mayweather fight. I dont' see how they will approve Cortez as the ref on this fight.
He is as focused as he needs to be. That should be Roach's number 1 priority for the fight getting a compitant ref.
