an observation i made a few years back was that some refs start off breakin fighters who are quick to hold, maybe for the first few rounds but then gradually let it become a freely endeavoured dynamic to the fight.
I think it's a measure of a referee's general competence, dealing with holding... i remember thinking that I was glad Martinez knocked Williams out when he did because the referee was really starting to piss me off with his irratable, novice handling of the fight. He would of lost control of it had it gone on.

And thats you see the ego come to the fore... When an incompetent ref insists on making a statement in order to regain control.