Does anyone feel any sympathy for Joe Cortez?

[C.J.Rock]

It seems like Joe Cortez's name is mud these days, synonymous with incompetence.

But up until the Hatton fight he was considered one of the very best referees in the world and one of the most popular.

It seems that old age has caught up with him and he's no longer able to control the action as he once was.

I agree he shouldn't be in charge of any major fights again but I it's sad to see his reputation be so destroyed based on the past year alone.

When a fighter gets old we are understanding when they can't do it any more. I think Cortez should retire now but I hope his reputation as a gret referee for many years is still upheld.

Try watching the Kirk Johnson-John Ruiz fight and then tell me Cortez was a good referee.
That was the most blatently biased officiating i've ever seen. Ruiz did an acting job worthy of an oscar Cortez got the oscar for best supporting role. Cortez has always been an egotistical and biased official. He truly believes every fight he officiated was The Joe Cortez show and the fighters were secondary. Kick his butt out

I've seen much worse.

I don't like the "catch-phrases" by refs. I mean you got boxers saying things which is okay, announcers doing it, now you've got refs doing it?

"I'm fair but I'm firm"
"What I say, you must obey"


Stop!

You've seen worse When
Every body shot Kirk threw Ruiz cried foul and in jumped Crooked Cortez. The final shot , a beautiful legit hook to the liver dropped Ruiz he screamed and rolled in agony claiming foul. Crooked immediately DQ/'d Kirk
Now we sat together and watched the whole fight in slow motion only TWO of kirks shot could be called definately low. Meanwhile Ruiz was holding, elbowing & headbutting as he liked with no penalty from Cortez. The correct result of that fight was a KO win for Kirk Johnson