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New worst boxing referee ever: Polish Hammer Pete Podgorski
By Zach Arnold | January 3, 2014
There was a Friday Night Fight event with Mike Tyson as the promotional front man at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Todd Grisham and Teddy Atlas worked the show since Joe Tessitore was busy with the Clemson/Ohio State Orange Bowl game in Miami.
Minnesota’s boxing commission has never had a stellar record for regulation but tonight was atrocious. In a bout between Super Middleweights Caleb Truax and Ossie Duran, it went the distance and was scored an ugly 95-95 draw. That was lousy.
But it came nowhere come to the finish for the main event for the IBF Super Featherweight title between Rances Barthelemy and Argenis Mendez. Barthelemy rocked Mendez, put him down to the canvas once, and then as the bell rang to end round two… Barthelemy hit Mendez two times after the bell rang twice and knocked him out. Midwest referee Pete Podgorski stepped in way too late and treated the blows as if they were legal. Barthelemy won.
And the flood of anger began.
Not even a question. So late. Complete DQ. Fucking Minnesota.
— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) January 4, 2014
What shitty reffing. Not only was he not in close to the fighters at the end of the round, but he gives a brutally KO'd fighter a count.
— caposa (@GrabakaHitman) January 4, 2014
The referee was nowhere NEAR the fighters to even try and break things at the bell. Awful. Minnesota. The new Michigan. #boxing
— Mark E. Ortega (@MarkEOrtega) January 4, 2014
Referee's are trained, that when that 10 second warning is struck, to start hovering around the fighters to stop late punches… #boxing
— Steve Kim (@stevemaxboxing) January 4, 2014
Steve Smoger feels Pete Podgorski stepped in there on time. #kirklandtapia
— David Greisman (@fightingwords2) January 4, 2014
Some are calling for Barthelemy to be DQ'd, but that wouldn't be right. Up to ref to be in position to break up action; Podgorski failed.
— Jake Donovan (@JakeNDaBox) January 4, 2014
"It's ok b/c he would have won anyway" is a stupid argument. There are rules. We live in a society.
— Scott (@scottchristBLH) January 4, 2014
Bernardo Osuna said that the referee “wasn’t available” to give a statement after the fight.
Topics: Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
As a boxing fan it was one of those nights that made you angry for taking the time to watch.
A few states use a 5 second warning before the end of the round. Ref steps in, says “5 seconds. Stop at the bell” That statement takes 2 seconds. At that point, there are only 3 seconds left in the round and the ref is usually in good position to end the round.
The count started while the ref was in the middle of the standing 8 ct. after Mendez was down. Seen this ref before, usually he’s good. My guess is he would have been there if he had heard the warning! Bottom line, Mendez was in over his head this fight.
This writer is off the wall, The word WORST is just too much, Yes the ref was out of position. Just like a umpire in baseball that calls a ball foul that was on the chalk 1/2 of an inch. I think it is a case of just looking for a reason to make a change. Yes it appeared the bell rang and was not heard. Not by either boxer, they both continued. Bottom line, the correct person won and if they have a rematch. The result will be the same. Off day for guy in the center, yeah, maybe but, not an excuse, the best man won and will win again. Life goes on and better matches will happen, I hope.
Just another case of a writer trying to get noticed. The word worst could apply to hundreds of officials. Maybe deserved of a few. I don’t expect he knows much about boxing. Either way, I saw the bout. If the referee heard the bell I guess he would have stepped in. Most likely he would have got hit himself. Bottom line, the right guy won. BTW they had a rematch since and the same guy won. Sour grapes. My guess is this writher is a lonely bloke who sits at home with a beer and pillow on Friday night. Please find more interesting things to write about.