Cortez.....

[-EX-]

Yeah I like Bayless. I even think the ref for Judah-Cotto was good even though Zab was complaining.
Castillo did kinda leave himself open to the body shot if u watch again. He was just standing there. Maybe he thought Hatton was backing up. I give Hatton credit he fought good even though everyone knew Castillo wasn't doing **** after we saw the first 30 seconds.

[Sin City]

To be objective about this -

1) I thought that Cortez controlled the clinches/infighting well - Castillo was holding as much as Hatton, and there were plenty of punches thrown on the inside, just look at the punch stats or better still rewatch the fight.

2) The points deduction for the low blow was harsh IMO, but there's no way it was important in the result. Castillo couldn't cope with Hatton, he looked very weak against a Hatton in supreme condition who was superior to him even on the inside where Castillo hoped to get some joy.

But I seriously didn't think Cortez was that bad. The long action-less clinches were cut out and it was an entertaining fight in my eyes.

When have you known Castillo to clinch a lot?? Hatton was initiating 90% of the clinches.. because Castillo saw that Hatton was about to grab and then grabbed on doesn't mean he started the clinch. I think Hatton should get points deducted when he fights like that because clinching is not a style and is illegal unless your badly hurt.

[GunStar]

I watched the fight over and over, I didn't see any low blows from Castillo, the next time Cortez says I'm fair but I'm firm, Cortez should be shot!

[tyson]

Just watched the fight again. Damn, Hatton likes to hug, no doubt about it.
I actually got mad, and I thought I liked Hatton.

To be fair to Cortez, the deduction came after several warnings and several "low" blows in a short period of time.
I think the referees have decided to come down hard on low blows after all the talk about it after Cotto-Judah and Judah-Mayweather.
I won't be surprised if we see some DQ's pretty early from low blows from now on.

However, I feel the clinching from Hatton should have been adressed as well.
There's no denying that it's a strategy from Ricky, and there's no denying that it clearly state that holding is illegal in the boxing rules book.

When that is said and done, I still think some blame is to be put on Castillo.
A world-class fighter should be able to adjust to something that works at his disadvantage, but he didn't.
He could actually have done something as easy as moving his feet just a little.
You can't expect the ref to help you, so you just got to do something yourself...

[satori555]

no, not next time, he should be shot now

[GunStar]

no, not next time, he should be shot now

Lol, I agree!

[satori555]

castillo should have castrated hatton with a low blow, only way to stop a cheater is to cheat

[OptimusWolf]

Ok once someone on here whose boxing knowledge I truly respect (there are a few but mostly they've been driven away by the kids) shows me how in that fight Hatton was cheating rather than them both competing to control the infighting I'll think about changing my opinion. But arguments such as "well have you ever known castillo to clinch?" are weak as ****.

I saw castillo struggling with Hatton's strength on the inside, and once his uppercuts didnt' have any impact, he basically thought "I'm getting the **** beaten out of me here against a better fighter".

You guys claiming Cortez is cheating in addition toNady and Mickey Vann indicates that perhaps you don't know as much about the rules of boxing as you think. Or you can make the same point after every fight of a guy you claim you will never watch again.....

All boxers do what they have to to win. I've seen enough of Hopkins, Ruiz, Mayweather, Trinidad, Ali (cue almost every boxer to lace them up) to know that the rules are bent by all.

[Macho_Time]

Wouldn't it be funny if the next time Cortez says, "And remember guys...." and then both fighters interrupt him by saying, "Yeah, yeah, we know...you're fair but firm!" I'd laugh my ass off.

[Dazzaman]

Originally posted by Optimus Wolf 1) I thought that Cortez controlled the clinches/infighting well - Castillo was holding as much as Hatton, and there were plenty of punches thrown on the inside, just look at the punch stats or better still rewatch the fight.

Good point man, from the point of view that Cortez tries to get fighters to punch out of clinches, still downloading the fight so can't comment on the second point. Maybe Joe is getting a little old?

Hey, we can be thankful it wasn't Jay "Break it up, break it up!" Nady.