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Many times in boxing we have to deal with poor judging and sometimes poor refereeing. The sport has had a history of controversial judging and controversial refereeing throughout it's history. I have seen some serious hatchet jobs in boxing over the years, some were just ignorant calls, some were fishy calls, and some were just honest misses. When there is something good in the sport it's important to point that out. The sport of boxing gets plenty of black eyes to go around, so when we have an opportunity to shine a nice light on someone in the sport, it should be done. So in comes two boxing referees that I believe deserve good mention for their works in the ring.
Boxing referee Steve Smoger is the first guy that comes to mind. I got to meet Smoger in Memphis, TN in the back of the Fed Ex Forum right after a young kid from Youngstown, Ohio put himself on the map. Kelly Pavlik just knocked out knockout artist Edison Miranda. Pavlik and his team were rejoicing in the back of the Fed Ex Forum when Steve Smoger walked up. I was standing right there when Smoger walked up to Pavlik with tears of joy in his eyes. At that very moment Smoger was not a referee, he was a human being that loved boxing. He wanted to show this kid Pavlik just how much he respected him. Smoger gave Pavlik a hug, and told him, "Good job kid, I am proud of you."
Steve Smoger has the respect of the fighters. They know that they will get a fair shake when Smoger is the third man in the ring. Another thing that I have noticed about Steve Smoger is his obvious respect for the prizefighter. When he needs to stop a fight, the first thing that he does after he waives it off is to hug the loser, and usually offers some warm words of encouragement. He's truly a gentleman in the ring and boxing needs more just like him. Kudos to you Steve Smoger, boxing is lucky to have you.
The second guy that comes to mind is boxing referee Arthur Mercante Jr. Just last night during the Miguel Cotto Vs. Yuri Foreman world title fight in the Bronx, Mercante had to make decision when a towel came flying into the ring in the middle of a round. Cotto and Foreman were slugging it out when the towel flew in. Cotto assumed that the fight was over, and so did Foreman. Both corner entered the ring followed by some commissioners. Mercante looked at the timekeeper, and told him, "time out, the fight isn't over."
Mercante could then be heard telling Yuri Foreman, "It's not over kid, I'm not going to stop it, you're not losing like this." Mercante ordered the ring to be cleared, and he resumed the fight. Mercante made the right call and he gave the current champion at the time an opportunity to win or lose like a champion. This was a class act decision, and the right decision. Finally a boxing referee that nails it one hundred percent correctly on the head. Nice job Arthur, the sport needs more referee's just like you.
Boxing referee Steve Smoger is the first guy that comes to mind. I got to meet Smoger in Memphis, TN in the back of the Fed Ex Forum right after a young kid from Youngstown, Ohio put himself on the map. Kelly Pavlik just knocked out knockout artist Edison Miranda. Pavlik and his team were rejoicing in the back of the Fed Ex Forum when Steve Smoger walked up. I was standing right there when Smoger walked up to Pavlik with tears of joy in his eyes. At that very moment Smoger was not a referee, he was a human being that loved boxing. He wanted to show this kid Pavlik just how much he respected him. Smoger gave Pavlik a hug, and told him, "Good job kid, I am proud of you."
Steve Smoger has the respect of the fighters. They know that they will get a fair shake when Smoger is the third man in the ring. Another thing that I have noticed about Steve Smoger is his obvious respect for the prizefighter. When he needs to stop a fight, the first thing that he does after he waives it off is to hug the loser, and usually offers some warm words of encouragement. He's truly a gentleman in the ring and boxing needs more just like him. Kudos to you Steve Smoger, boxing is lucky to have you.
The second guy that comes to mind is boxing referee Arthur Mercante Jr. Just last night during the Miguel Cotto Vs. Yuri Foreman world title fight in the Bronx, Mercante had to make decision when a towel came flying into the ring in the middle of a round. Cotto and Foreman were slugging it out when the towel flew in. Cotto assumed that the fight was over, and so did Foreman. Both corner entered the ring followed by some commissioners. Mercante looked at the timekeeper, and told him, "time out, the fight isn't over."
Mercante could then be heard telling Yuri Foreman, "It's not over kid, I'm not going to stop it, you're not losing like this." Mercante ordered the ring to be cleared, and he resumed the fight. Mercante made the right call and he gave the current champion at the time an opportunity to win or lose like a champion. This was a class act decision, and the right decision. Finally a boxing referee that nails it one hundred percent correctly on the head. Nice job Arthur, the sport needs more referee's just like you.
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