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David Haye believes referee Joe Cortez ruined Ricky Hatton's chance of boxing glory.
The undisputed cruiserweight world champion was critical of the official's part in the Hitman's 10th-round KO by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.
Cortez, whose catchphrase is 'I'm firm, but I'm fair', was on the Mancunian's back from the opening exchanges.
He refused to let Hatton get in close and constantly warned him, even though Mayweather was ducking down when the two did go toe-to-toe.
It came to a point in the sixth round when Cortez took a point off for hitting round the back of the head - the first time that had happened to Hatton in 44 fights - but for Haye, the damage had already been done.
"Ricky did everything, but I thought the referee had a part in this fight," he told Sky Box Office. "He had become desperate and a desperate man is easy to catch.
"Once he had lost that point, it changed everything. He tried too hard and as a result, he smothered his own work.
"The ref had it in his mind before the fight. He was trying to keep busy, trying to do too much and for me he ruined the fight. It could've had a much better flow.
The undisputed cruiserweight world champion was critical of the official's part in the Hitman's 10th-round KO by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.
Cortez, whose catchphrase is 'I'm firm, but I'm fair', was on the Mancunian's back from the opening exchanges.
He refused to let Hatton get in close and constantly warned him, even though Mayweather was ducking down when the two did go toe-to-toe.
It came to a point in the sixth round when Cortez took a point off for hitting round the back of the head - the first time that had happened to Hatton in 44 fights - but for Haye, the damage had already been done.
"Ricky did everything, but I thought the referee had a part in this fight," he told Sky Box Office. "He had become desperate and a desperate man is easy to catch.
"Once he had lost that point, it changed everything. He tried too hard and as a result, he smothered his own work.
"The ref had it in his mind before the fight. He was trying to keep busy, trying to do too much and for me he ruined the fight. It could've had a much better flow.
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