Juan Manuel Marquez Rejects Cortez For Juan Diaz Bout

**Sox8055** · 02-03-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by BIGPOPPAPUMP

Former champion Juan Manuel Marquez has rejected the use of veteran ref Joe Cortez for the upcoming fight with Juan Diaz, scheduled for February 28 in Houston, Texas. Marquez appears to have been concerned with the way Cortez officiated several fights that involved Mexican opponents - with a lot of focus on the terrible call with Humberto Soto being disqualified in last year's bout against Francisco Lorenzo. Soto was beating the hell out of Lorenzo, when Cortez issued a DQ call for Soto hitting the fighter as he was down, but a replay showed that no punch ever hit Lorenzo as he was on the mat. [details]

He made the right decision, especially after the outcome of the Soto-Lorenzo fight. They should replace him with Kenny, Smoger, or any other vet ref...

**The_Demon** · 02-03-2009, 11:39 AM

wise move,cortez is one of the worse referees in the world **** knows how he is a professional on countless occasions in big fights he has made a mockery of boxing.

**savorduhflavor** · 02-03-2009, 11:48 AM

Kenny Bayless, best in the biz.

**PittyPat** · 02-03-2009, 11:48 AM

Good. Get Bayless or Weeks in there. Or even get Steele out of retirement.

Then again, they'll probably go one worse than Cortez - Cotton or Nady.

**Migs** · 02-03-2009, 11:50 AM

I don't blame Marquez at all. It's too bad Smoger can't ref this fight. Easily the best in the business.

**poontango** · 02-03-2009, 11:53 AM

Its About time

Good for JMM, more fighters need to start protesting this guy. Fair but firm my ass...Joe Cortez needs to be put out to pasture in the worst way.

This guy's a total joke.

I agree w/ you guys, Bayless or Weeks would be a good choice.

But for my money there is no better ref in boxing hands down than the great Steve Smoger.

If there ever was a prototypical ref to be cloned, it should be made in the mold of Smoger.

**Ben_London** · 02-03-2009, 11:57 AM

He's fair but he's infirm.

**dblaze9** · 02-03-2009, 11:58 AM

I guess most of the people here don't know that Cortez actually trains and teaches Weeks, Bayless, Ortega, Nelson, and a couple other judges that we see on TV. They are all under his wing and he coaches them on what they do wrong and what they do right after each televised fight...

I think Cortez is a GREAT judge and Marquez needs to worry about Diaz more than he needs to worry about who is calling this fight. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time and Cortez is no different...but he is usually way more right than he is wrong!!! A loss for Marquez here could be very bad for his career...I am sure that Cortez has NOTHING against Mexican fighters!

**Scott9945** · 02-03-2009, 12:00 PM

Cortez is awful. Just don't replace him with Texas house ref Laurence Cole.

Juan Manuel Marquez Rejects Cortez For Juan Diaz Bout