Why don't referee's score anymore

[uncle ben]

Why don't they do it and why did they stop being allowed to?

[Dempsey-Louis]

Why don't they do it and why did they stop being allowed to?

No clue, but something makes me think it is probably better this way; a ref with a single focus uncaring of the fight's outcome would make a better ref. But that's just my opinion, having never refereed a prize fight.

I was always amazed that major fights were sometimes left to ONLY the ref's decision. I believe the Dempsey-Gibbons decision back in '23 was left solely to the referee.

Sorry for the digression: years later in '27 with much controversy surrounding the Dempsey-Tunney rematch, James Dougherty, the ref from the Gibbons fight claimed he had been approached with a $10,000 offer to insure a Dempsey victory (in case it went the distance.)

[OctoberRed]

Why don't they do it and why did they stop being allowed to?

They still do it in the UK, to a minor extent.

[Anthony342]

I bet Mils Lane still would do pretty well with the ladies.

[GhostofDempsey]

Referees already have too much influence on the outcome of the fight with selective enforcement of rules and point deductions. Look at Joe Cortez and Kenny Bayless and how they served as guardian angels for Mayweather in several of his fights. In theory, a three-judge panel should help eliminate controversy, but as we've seen with many a controversial/bad decision, that isn't necessarily so. I still think the judges should not be at ringside. They should be in isolated rooms and watching on a big screen so that they get to see each angle that they often miss from ringside, especially when the action is on the other side of the ring. Slow-motion replays help too.

[GhostofDempsey]

No clue, but something makes me think it is probably better this way; a ref with a single focus uncaring of the fight's outcome would make a better ref. But that's just my opinion, having never refereed a prize fight.

I was always amazed that major fights were sometimes left to ONLY the ref's decision. I believe the Dempsey-Gibbons decision back in '23 was left solely to the referee.

Sorry for the digression: years later in '27 with much controversy surrounding the Dempsey-Tunney rematch, James Dougherty, the ref from the Gibbons fight claimed he had been approached with a $10,000 offer to insure a Dempsey victory (in case it went the distance.)

The story I read was that Dempsey was actually asked by Kearns to carry Gibbons to the distance, because he feared they may not get their money if he ended it early. He wanted their agent to have a chance to get out of town with Dempsey's purse before local promoters reconsidered. As it turned out, Gibbons got nothing for that fight because there was no money left over in the purse to pay him. Regardless, it was a pretty one-sided affair, Dempsey easily defeated Gibbons, a fighter who Harry Wills refused to fight and several others ducked. Tunney avoided him early on in his prime.

[Dempsey-Louis]

I would say we should start a thread evaluating referees, but I don't have enough to say to warrant a new thread. LOL

I dislike refs who over involve themselves in a fight, by making their personality part of the show. I particularly disliked both Miles Lane and Richard Steele. I thought both sought too much attention for themselves by show-boating (to steal a very old term from my Dad) stealing attention away from the fighters.

[Anthony342]

I would say we should start a thread evaluating referees, but I don't have enough to say to warrant a new thread. LOL

I dislike refs who over involve themselves in a fight, by making their personality part of the show. I particularly disliked both Miles Lane and Richard Steele. I thought both sought too much attention for themselves by show-boating (to steal a very old term from my Dad) stealing attention away from the fighters.

Mils Lane eh occasionally. Richard Steele I agree on. It turned out pretty well for Lane, as the second Tyson/Holyfield fight led to him having his own judge show, appearing at a WWF pay per view and being a regular on the cast of the show Celebrity Death Match. I usually liked Steve Smoger and Larry Hazzard though. Favorite was probably Arthur Mercante, Sr.

[OctoberRed]

I bet Mils Lane still would do pretty well with the ladies.

Last time I saw a photo of him, it looked like he was getting up there in age.