by Rick Reeno
Virgil Hunter, the trainer for super middleweight king Andre Ward, took offense after reading some of the recent comments from Carl Froch, who expressed his unhappiness with veteran referee Steve Smoger. Back in 2011, Smoger was the referee for the Super Six final between Froch and Ward in Atlantic City.
Froch has stated that he needs to have a rematch with Ward in the UK, because a more competent referee is required to officiate. He says Smoger wouldn't allow him to fight in his usual manner, and believes the referee allowed Ward to hold once too often.
"Carl Froch owes Steve Smoger an apology. He keeps coming up with excuses on why he lost to Andre Ward. ...fighting homesickness because he was 3,000 miles away from home, fighting the East Coast weather and now he has turned this on the referee, one of the finest referees around who lets fighters fight. Froch said Smoger didn't do his job and if Ward comes to England - he needs a referee that won't let Ward hold. I think this is a direct attack on Steve Smoger's reputation, one of the finest referees in the game and I feel an apology is in order," Hunter told BoxingScene.com.
