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I know there are some doosies out there. We can all list multiple examples. We all have our "favorite" screw ups.
Ironically, the worst screw up I can think of is almost everyone's favorite to watch for action. Tony Weeks should have stopped the fight with Castillo at least twice before fortunes dramatically reversed. By all dictums of his supposed training as a referee, Chico, my own favorite boy, was out. That Weeks' actions changed the results of an already great fight, an important fight, make them more grevious. That his own incompetence was the inadvertant cause of one of the most dramatic finishes in boxing history, an all time fan favorite, is no reason to overlook the simple truth--Weeks screwed up mightily, and the only loser was the man who was supposed to win the fight, Castillo.
This is my own "favorite," though there are plenty to go around. Some may disagree with me, feeling the fact that Chico went on to a KO victory enough vindication for their point of view. If all fights were refereed that way, I would certainly agree with them. It was not some special vision that told Weeks Chico was able to go on, but pure incompetence in a critical situation that led to the fight's continuance. The man was like a chicken with his head cut off exactly at that point in time where his decisions were most critical. There are so few moments where coolness of character is needed by the referee that are so important. Some men crack under pressure. When you need them. It happens all the time.
If I were Tony Weeks I would be watching fights hoping some ref would screw up worse than I did. Well, some screw ups led to deaths. Weeks' screw up didn't do that. By all evidence of the senses, though, Chico should have been dead once Weeks let it go on.
Ironically, the worst screw up I can think of is almost everyone's favorite to watch for action. Tony Weeks should have stopped the fight with Castillo at least twice before fortunes dramatically reversed. By all dictums of his supposed training as a referee, Chico, my own favorite boy, was out. That Weeks' actions changed the results of an already great fight, an important fight, make them more grevious. That his own incompetence was the inadvertant cause of one of the most dramatic finishes in boxing history, an all time fan favorite, is no reason to overlook the simple truth--Weeks screwed up mightily, and the only loser was the man who was supposed to win the fight, Castillo.
This is my own "favorite," though there are plenty to go around. Some may disagree with me, feeling the fact that Chico went on to a KO victory enough vindication for their point of view. If all fights were refereed that way, I would certainly agree with them. It was not some special vision that told Weeks Chico was able to go on, but pure incompetence in a critical situation that led to the fight's continuance. The man was like a chicken with his head cut off exactly at that point in time where his decisions were most critical. There are so few moments where coolness of character is needed by the referee that are so important. Some men crack under pressure. When you need them. It happens all the time.
If I were Tony Weeks I would be watching fights hoping some ref would screw up worse than I did. Well, some screw ups led to deaths. Weeks' screw up didn't do that. By all evidence of the senses, though, Chico should have been dead once Weeks let it go on.
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