Will the referee be fair to Kovalev against Hopkins?

[IamInuit]

Perhaps I've been asleep for the last 20 years but I certainly dont remember Hopkins being a referees pet. Smoger lost the plot in the Morat fight but that's on Steve's shoulders. He blew it. As far as tactics, Hopkins will get his sneaky side in no matter who the ref is because he knows where he is at all times. Its Kovalev that is being touted as the best lh to come off of that continent since Dariusz and both HBO and Showtime are frothing at the mouth about possible future dollars. Not only that I'm sure they would both like the old man to just go away already. The Orgs as well. Anyone with concerns about the bottom line in today's market would most likely prefer him gone. The deck could just as well be stacked against Bernard.

[p4pking]

^^ That's what I was thinking, it's not like Hopkins is Canelo here or something, he's on borrowed time. The old fox is going to give any referee a workout, but I can't remember any terrible reffing in any of his fights aside from Smoger that night. Surely a Kovalev win would bring in more dollars for the networks down the line?

That said, I'm not really clear on the situation with Hopkins siding with Oscar as opposed to Haymon, or what the latters relationship with Kovalevs promoters might be etc. If Vic Drakulich, Smoger, or Laurence Cole get's the job, then I'll start worrying. That woman who reffed Kovalevs last fight was good.

[Spicoli]

We need to worry even more if a ref enters the ring concerned about being fair to one fighter compared to the other or that we're already making them the story. Hopkins is master at winning the 1st round before the bell rings, you can see it sap his opponents within the first few rounds...sometimes on the scale before the cameras... with nervous smiles, subtle hesitations and half hearted lead punching. I doubt very seriously Kovalev will follow suit and play a foil to Hopkins. Before its over I can see him going bully the instant Hopkins tried to tie in and dry up time and look for spin out counter rights. But I also don't think that's Hopkins last resort and hope. If he gets hurt the instinct will come out and his ego and pride won't ignore Kovalevs ample chin before he resorts to bending over and falling to his knees trying to work a ref. Its a very mind boggling blend as Kovalev has never been pressed to cope and deal with the fool package that is Hopkins, and that's just in the psychological mind games. Fighters establish reputations, track records and if anything I think it'll be that of Hopkins that would work against him more than his actual in the moment perceived tactics in the past but not so much now. Hopkins will fight and do so as a champ here, if he goes out it'll be on his war torn shield. Bank it.

[holmcall]

Perhaps I've been asleep for the last 20 years but I certainly dont remember Hopkins being a referees pet. Smoger lost the plot in the Morat fight but that's on Steve's shoulders. He blew it. As far as tactics, Hopkins will get his sneaky side in no matter who the ref is because he knows where he is at all times. Its Kovalev that is being touted as the best lh to come off of that continent since Dariusz and both HBO and Showtime are frothing at the mouth about possible future dollars. Not only that I'm sure they would both like the old man to just go away already. The Orgs as well. Anyone with concerns about the bottom line in today's market would most likely prefer him gone. The deck could just as well be stacked against Bernard.

Yes, Smoger did "blow" it all right.

[IamInuit]

Perhaps I've been asleep for the last 20 years but I certainly dont remember Hopkins being a referees pet. Smoger lost the plot in the Morat fight but that's on Steve's shoulders. He blew it. As far as tactics, Hopkins will get his sneaky side in no matter who the ref is because he knows where he is at all times. Its Kovalev that is being touted as the best lh to come off of that continent since Dariusz and both HBO and Showtime are frothing at the mouth about possible future dollars. Not only that I'm sure they would both like the old man to just go away already. The Orgs as well. Anyone with concerns about the bottom line in today's market would most likely prefer him gone. The deck could just as well be stacked against Bernard.

Yes, Smoger did "blow" it all right.

Maybe Kov should request him. He's supposedly a punchers ref.

[holmcall]

Perhaps I've been asleep for the last 20 years but I certainly dont remember Hopkins being a referees pet. Smoger lost the plot in the Morat fight but that's on Steve's shoulders. He blew it. As far as tactics, Hopkins will get his sneaky side in no matter who the ref is because he knows where he is at all times. Its Kovalev that is being touted as the best lh to come off of that continent since Dariusz and both HBO and Showtime are frothing at the mouth about possible future dollars. Not only that I'm sure they would both like the old man to just go away already. The Orgs as well. Anyone with concerns about the bottom line in today's market would most likely prefer him gone. The deck could just as well be stacked against Bernard.

Yes, Smoger did "blow" it all right.

Maybe Kov should request him. He's supposedly a punchers ref.

He is the "Patron Saint of Morbid Standbyers" The list of fighters who were almost killed by his over tolerance is getting longer as he is getting fatter, older, and weaker. The guy is flat out dangerous, but your point is taken. He is a punchers ref. In this regard, his latest was the Ola Afolabi vs. Anthony Caputo Smith on July 26, 2014 in which the now aging, overweight, physically weak, and slow SS allowed the overly-game Smith to take way too much punishment and bloodletting. The announcers roundly criticized Smoger for allowing Smith to be used as an uppercut bag, but finally the doctors advised the overly tolerant Smoger to stop the butchering.

[IamInuit]

Perhaps I've been asleep for the last 20 years but I certainly dont remember Hopkins being a referees pet. Smoger lost the plot in the Morat fight but that's on Steve's shoulders. He blew it. As far as tactics, Hopkins will get his sneaky side in no matter who the ref is because he knows where he is at all times. Its Kovalev that is being touted as the best lh to come off of that continent since Dariusz and both HBO and Showtime are frothing at the mouth about possible future dollars. Not only that I'm sure they would both like the old man to just go away already. The Orgs as well. Anyone with concerns about the bottom line in today's market would most likely prefer him gone. The deck could just as well be stacked against Bernard.

Yes, Smoger did "blow" it all right.

Maybe Kov should request him. He's supposedly a punchers ref.

He is the "Patron Saint of Morbid Standbyers" The list of fighters who were almost killed by his over tolerance is getting longer as he is getting fatter, older, and weaker. The guy is flat out dangerous, but your point is taken. He is a punchers ref. In this regard, his latest was the Ola Afolabi vs. Anthony Caputo Smith on July 26, 2014 in which the now aging, overweight, physically weak, and slow SS allowed the overly-game Smith to take way too much punishment and bloodletting. The announcers roundly criticized Smoger for allowing Smith to be used as an uppercut bag, but finally the doctors advised the overly tolerant Smoger to stop the butchering.

He would have been great in ancient Rome. If he had his way, they would still be issuing a ten count over a man in a coma.

[p4pking]

Agree completely with you guys, Smoger seems to be slipping to me. Regardless of always being a lax referee, he has had some terrible showings in the last couple years. In his only defense, I'd imagine he's under a certain amount of pressure to live up to his reputation at this point, but that only makes him more of a liability in there. The Kirkland-Tapia fight was especially bad form, I thought.