Smoger was disgusting tonight

[LA_2_Vegas]

It was pretty disturbing, so obviou......but thennn...the post fight hug. LOL! I had to laugh at the whole thing after that. The timing of that had me and friends laughing for a while.

Neither of the fighters were really complaining, they were both taking their liberties, I liked that approach out of Murat tbh. It's the same reason I like Bhop...good, rough fight.

[Kris Silver]

He asked if he was okay because Murat had fouled him moments before. Smoger said nothing to Murat though.

Oh give over, Bernard was clearly fine a good while after it, was walking away not complaining (as Smoger would know Hop's known to even when not hurt) and stalked like a fan then and other times. "Well done, only one round to go", christ what is he a neutral ref or working in Bernard's corner giving him status updates, tips and encouragement?

Although Smoger bashing seems to be the cool thing to do right now, but I would like to hear Smoger's side of the story. He is always pretty clear on why he did what, so I would like him to get interviewed for this supposed "terrible" performance.

Dude I like Smoger and have never complained about him before. There's usually no smoke without fire. The fact's are what they are, it was very odd and biased behaviour for a professional neutral ref. You don't need to hear Smoger's justification of shuvving a professional boxers face several times, it's simply in-excusable.

[Dorian]

Smoger, as always, did a great job. He wasn't taking no sht from the challenger. Him and Bayless are best in the game, period.

Put the hopkins nuthuggery aside brotha.

[ИATAS]

Put the hopkins nuthuggery aside brotha.

I'd think the same if it was two random fighters. I've always liked no nonsense refs. Smoger wasn't having none of Mu**** sht. Murat was pretty blatant with his fouls and never stopped after warnings.

As for Smoger hugging Hopkins or whatever, he's done that forever with fighters don't know why it's suddenly a problem now.

[IronDanHamza]

I'd think the same if it was two random fighters. I've always liked no nonsense refs. Smoger wasn't having none of Mu**** sht. Murat was pretty blatant with his fouls and never stopped after warnings.

As for Smoger hugging Hopkins or whatever, he's done that forever with fighters don't know why it's suddenly a problem now.

How many times has he hugged one fighter whilst pushing the other in the face at the end of the fight?

Infact I don't recall him hugging a fighter at all after the fight's finished.

That's precisely the point he wasn't having any **** from Murat, that's great.

But Hopkins could basically do what he wanted and - "Hey Bern, you good? You're doing great baby".

Pretty clear and obvious bias.

[Syf]

Smoger could have dq'd Murat you know. He was perfectly within his rights to do so.

Numerous lowblows, hits during a break, rabbit punches, turning his back???... Trying to hit Popkins while he was seated on the canvas...

Smoger wasn't disgusting, Murat was. He deserved a dq, in all realness

[IronDanHamza]

I actually thought he was going to DQ him for the two punches while he was down. Not too sure what Murat was thinking there. Like another poster said, Smoger would have been well in his right to DQ Murat for that.

It's not that he was too hard on Murat, it's just the fact he was on Murat's case for everything and didn't say a word to Hopkins, even when he blatantly fouled right infront of his face. He didn't even let Murat have a break like your supposed to entitled to when you're fouled like that.

There was quite a few occasions where if Hopkins wasn't fighting a bum he'd have pretended to be injured more than likely.

Murat's so bad that when Hopkins get's low blowed, falls to the canvass and get's punched while he's down not only does he actually continue the fight, he doesn't even need a break

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I actually thought he was going to DQ him for the two punches while he was down. Not too sure what Murat was thinking there. Like another poster said, Smoger would have been well in his right to DQ Murat for that.

It's not that he was too hard on Murat, it's just the fact he was on Murat's case for everything and didn't say a word to Hopkins, even when he blatantly fouled right infront of his face. He didn't even let Murat have a break like your supposed to entitled to when you're fouled like that.

There was quite a few occasions where if Hopkins wasn't fighting a bum he'd have pretended to be injured more than likely.

Murat's so bad that when Hopkins get's low blowed, falls to the canvass and get's punched while he's down not only does he actually continue the fight, he doesn't even need a break

Murat had no game plan it seemed. How in the *** are you gonna get outworked by a 49 year old man?

[IronDanHamza]

Murat had no game plan it seemed. How in the *** are you gonna get outworked by a 49 year old man?

The guy is just beyond terrible.

No skills, no stamina, not a good boxer and not really aggressive. Just a sitting duck. No speed, no power.

Really just a bum.

[ИATAS]

The guy is just beyond terrible.

No skills, no stamina, not a good boxer and not really aggressive. Just a sitting duck. No speed, no power.

Really just a bum.

Typical NSB logic. If the guy isn't a top fighter he's a bum. Is Murat world class? Nope. He is a durable, tough opponent though.

Guys that Wilder and Russell jr fight are bums. Murat was a contender. He's above journeyman status. Decent win for Hopkins as his first title defense at his age. Great win? Nope, but decent and it was great for the fans to see put on a show 25 years after making his debut at the same venue. Remarkable stuff after all these years.