BTW..... no props for Gino Rodriguez? C'mon!

[GAME]

The ref did a pretty poor job. It seemed like he was doing what each cornerman told him to. When Booth complained he took a point from Wvlad and when manny complained he counted a knockdown against Haye.

I understand that the ref called it a KD cuz he was frustrated from Haye diving so wanted to stop that happening but theres ways of going about things. He did it wrong. He should have stood him up then deducted a point from him. Counting that as a knockdown was the wrong decision. The people in charge should sit him down make him watch it back and admit to being wrong. If he sticks by his decision and still believes that it was a genuine knockdown then he shouldnt be allowed near another title fight.

[TitoFan]

From a fan's perspective.... where we're all expecting a good, action fight... I thought Gino did an EXCELLENT job. Regardless of what drove him to do what he did. Wlad was pulling Haye down behind the head. We all saw it, the crowd saw it, the corners saw it. What would you have preferred... that he didn't do anything at all? As for Haye, I stand by my opinion. Flopping in itself is not a foul. But it ruins a fight. When a fighter takes a knee, the ref gives him an 8-count, right? Well, Haye didn't take a knee, but he did throw himself to the ground on many occasions. So take the 8-count.

That being said, I can't blame Haye fans for thinking to the contrary. After the shameful exhibition Haye put forth last night...... I'd be looking for all sorts of excuses, too.

[TitoFan]

Being a ref is a thankless job. No matter how good you do.... you're always going to have half the people criticizing your ass. (Usually... it's the loser's fans). But when fans pay good money to see a championship fight, they (we) want to see good, clean action. None of this pulling behind the head or flopping shit. And if the fighters themselves don't seem inclined to provide this to us, the only other person with any power in the ring is the ref. Not that our enjoyment should be a priority in the mind of the ref. He's too busy doing his job. But by taking the necessary actions to prevent and/or discourage the types of tactics that turn us fans off, I believe refs provide a good service.

Just my two cents worth.

[Spicoli]

I like a take charge ref but thought the point deduct was premature. Equally and as much as Haye was falling around like a nursing new born calf and trying to work ref, the ref can't just make it up and act on emotion or something. That could have been turned with a biased agenda driven ref and outrage would be defening...but Hayes 'style' made it fan friendly. If anything just stand Haye up and dock a point. KD's are already blown enough and rulz is rulz, its a slippery slope once you start appealing to group think.

[tysonesque]

I thought the ref did a good job. Wlad was pushing down on Haye and probably deserved to lose a point, but Haye was taking the piss throwing himself to the canvas literally every round looking to get Wlad disqualified or points deducted.

Haye has no one but himself to blame for the standing count. He dives so much he could quit boxing and pursue a career as a premiership footballer!

Or have I been too harsh on Haye - he did have a broken toe after all?