Arthur Mercante Sr. hope I ain't rolling over as to my age?
Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame "Expanded Category" (Referees, Judges & Timekeepers) in 1987.
He called the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. In the 10th round, Mercante endured what he called one of the most embarrassing moments of his refereeing career when he accidentally poked Frazier in the eye while he was breaking a clinch. Frazier and his corner were furious at Mercante, but Frazier went on to win the fight by a 15-round unanimous decision.
Refereed more than 140 world title fights fights involving boxers Floyd Patterson, Emile Griffith, Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Ortiz, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Ken Norton, Alexis Arguello, Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad, Kostya Tszyu, Shane Mosley, and Ricardo Lopez.
Glad someone mentioned an old school ref. Arguably greater than any of today.
From the three fights last night, Weeks did a good job, but has to work his way back after that Kovalev debacle.
Bayless is consistently decent, not spectacular by any means.
Dude in the DeGale fight was pretty bad. Did some good things that Weeks didn't do though, but that comes down to the fighters as well in terms of clinch scenarios