Steve Smoger what a POS ref

[hayZ]

Steve Smoger is the best ref.

[bose]

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.

Good, luck. Hope you have a careing corner.

[intoccabile]

fight should have been stopped sooner.
he grabbed the man getting hit, and did nothing to protect him (prevent the guy doing the hitting from, ya know, hitting) and it lead to that final hit. he should have grabbed Kirkland.

It was a performance I'd expect from Mccanty, not Smoger. After the Perez/Mago fight, you have to be very careful with these things. Tapia was getting pillar to posted.

[-Antonio-]

I love the way Smoger refs fights. How many times have we seen guys come back after being out on their feet or beaten up for a couple rounds? I bet you Groves would have wanted Smoger as a ref.

Also didn't Tapia rock Kirkland in the Beginning of the 5th or was that a round before? Only gripe I have is he should have grabbed Kirkland instead of half stepping in like that.

[Syf]

I saw Tapia had nothing left for a few rounds before the stoppage... they were hyping his shots but they had no mustard toward the end.. n the end before the stoppage, it was just a beatdown being glorified as a war by the announcing team. So yes, Smoger should have stopped the fight earlier, probably.

[Daddy T]

didn't see the fight but imo smoger is a great ref

[UTEP]

Steve Smoger is the worst referee in the sport at the moment, he was even worse in the Hopkins fight.

[Light_Speed]

He stopped it at the right time, the problem is HOW he stopped it. He gently touched Kirkland's shoulder like "Hey man, I think you should stop throwing punches now" so of course Kirkland got time to land one last big shot on a defenseless Tapia. The ref is supposed to jump in quickly and either grab the winning fighter and push him away, or get in front of the losing fighter to protect him.

[Dr Rumack]

I like Smoger for the most part, although I haven't seen all the recent fights he's reffed. His rep for letting the fighters get on with it has been exaggerated to the point where people act like he shows no concern for the well-being of the fighters at all.

Bayless is probably the best ref around at the moment. He tends to hover too much at times and runs the risk of getting in the way, but he's also very decisive and clear with his instructions. He doesn't seem to have any interest in making himself a celebrity either. No catchphrases or unnecessary quips or comments. Just very professional.

[Tom Cruise]

He stopped it at the right time, the problem is HOW he stopped it. He gently touched Kirkland's shoulder like "Hey man, I think you should stop throwing punches now" so of course Kirkland got time to land one last big shot on a defenseless Tapia. The ref is supposed to jump in quickly and either grab the winning fighter and push him away, or get in front of the losing fighter to protect him.

Hit the nail on the head mate. Stoppage time wasn't too bad, maybe could have been earlier but Tapia was showing heart and fighting back in spots, but he stopped it in a way which let Tapia take a huge shot for no reason. He needed to be much clearer.