Steve Smoger what a POS ref

[dirty fingers]

It is time for Steve to hang up the bowtie.

[MAXIMUS~RICO~13]

Kenny bayless is the best bar none... he seems to just flow with the fight

Kenny is the best right now, Smoger is just too damn old now...

[sugarsmosley]

Kenny is the best right now, Smoger is just too damn old now...

Agreed. Kenny B is the ATG ref.

[SlySlickSmooth]

Kenny B moves like Ali when he be reffing.

[Tay Roc]

OP: what about Smoger having the doctor check Tapia the 2 rounds prior to the stoppage? I believe the Dr. & the corner both had two opportunities to stop the fight before the stoppage. Most refs only call the doctor when it's a bad cut, whereas smoger called the doctor because of the punishment he was taking. And after Smoger told him he would stop the fight if he keeps taking big shots, Tapia responded by coming out and staggering Kirkland.

I think smoger could have done a better job on the last round, but overall he took all the necessary precautions to protect Tapia and allow other parties w/ the authority to stop the fight. They didn't.

Smoger has had worse nights, I think he did an overall great job.

[Heru]

I guarantee you that most World level fighters prefer a referee like Smoger than the refs that will stop a fight too early.

Fighters live boxing for years and go through grueling training camps in hopes to build their records to be able to receive an opportunity like those that Magomed and Tapia had that lead to a career that will sustain a nice living for them and/or their family/friends.

They don't sacrifice all that time, blood, sweat, and tears to get stopped early by some **** that doesn't give them the opportunity to exhaust all their resources (a.k.a go out on their shield). In some cases, fighters need to be saved from themselves (and their corners for that matter), but these 2 cases are not it... If we made a poll among fighters, I think their opinion would reflect that line of thought.

[Bushidō]

I don't really agree with all the Smoger bashing. Yeah if you watch the stoppage in slow mo it looks bad but it should have been on Tapia's corner to stop the fight. It's the corners job to protect the fighter. If Smoger stopped it in rounds 4 or 5 then people would cry about an early stoppage or that Tapia was still punching back.

[bose]

1, 2, get up, 3, 4, get up...only smoger can get away with this

[ThePunchingBag]

Smoger is the best in the business.

He gives fighters the benefit of the doubt.

As a fighter with championship aspirations you go into that ring knowing the risks. It's not the refs job to protect you from yourself. A fighter knows that if you get hurt in this dangerous sport there is nobody to blame but yourself.

If I was a fighter fighting for a championship or defending one there is no other ref I would rather have in the ring. Steve WILL give me that second chance to fight my way back. If I'm hurt or wobbling Smoger will give me the benefit of the doubt. A champion always wants it to end on his own terms whether that means picking yourself up off the canvas to win or going out on your shield.

[Ant Dgk]

He's one of the best but lately he's been messing up.