PessimisticPug
02-08-2006, 05:57 PM
In my years fighting I was fortunate enough to be in the presence of Frank Garza. Besides being a very good guy, he is to me a stand out referee. He refereed and judged many of my amatuer and professional fights and always had words of encouragement for me through my journey in boxing.
I watched last week as he refereed a fight between Kobo Gogoladze and Antionio Davis. Gogoladze was an olympian from the past having medaled at the tournament. Davis was a tough guy who came to fight, unfortunately he had not the skill to truely contend with Gogoladze.
Through the rounds it was obvious that Gogoladze had the upper hand as he moved and struck from his left handed stance. The blows were minimal in damage yet very damaging when reading the score cards. From early on Gogoladze would hold occasionally, but as the fight wore on and his endurance deteriorated, Gogoladze began to hold more frequently. Frank had thrown verbal cautions in Gogoladzes direction and the holding continued. Many referees would have just let the holding continue as so many regularly do. Not Frank however. Frank stepped up and delivered his first warning as he took a point from Gogoladze. The holding continued and Frank took another point from the fighter. Yet again, Gogoladze held fast to his holding pattern and Garza swiftly stepped up and took another point. If only more referees would follow in Garzas tracks.
I saw Frank the following night at the Palace of Aubur Hills and asked Frank about his decision to take the points from the fighter. "The guy was always holding...... what else could I do?" With the boxing worlds ways and traditions it seems that we have come to accept holding as a fair part of the game. However, in the rulebooks it is clearly stated as a foul.
With Frank Garzas standards of dignity and integrity what else could he do at that point in the fight. Frank did as he has always done in the fight game, he did the right thing and I commend him for it. Now if more officials would follow in his foot steps I believe that we would have an even greater sport of boxing to watch and to enjoy..........Rockin':boxing:
I watched last week as he refereed a fight between Kobo Gogoladze and Antionio Davis. Gogoladze was an olympian from the past having medaled at the tournament. Davis was a tough guy who came to fight, unfortunately he had not the skill to truely contend with Gogoladze.
Through the rounds it was obvious that Gogoladze had the upper hand as he moved and struck from his left handed stance. The blows were minimal in damage yet very damaging when reading the score cards. From early on Gogoladze would hold occasionally, but as the fight wore on and his endurance deteriorated, Gogoladze began to hold more frequently. Frank had thrown verbal cautions in Gogoladzes direction and the holding continued. Many referees would have just let the holding continue as so many regularly do. Not Frank however. Frank stepped up and delivered his first warning as he took a point from Gogoladze. The holding continued and Frank took another point from the fighter. Yet again, Gogoladze held fast to his holding pattern and Garza swiftly stepped up and took another point. If only more referees would follow in Garzas tracks.
I saw Frank the following night at the Palace of Aubur Hills and asked Frank about his decision to take the points from the fighter. "The guy was always holding...... what else could I do?" With the boxing worlds ways and traditions it seems that we have come to accept holding as a fair part of the game. However, in the rulebooks it is clearly stated as a foul.
With Frank Garzas standards of dignity and integrity what else could he do at that point in the fight. Frank did as he has always done in the fight game, he did the right thing and I commend him for it. Now if more officials would follow in his foot steps I believe that we would have an even greater sport of boxing to watch and to enjoy..........Rockin':boxing: