Hall of Fame boxing referee, Joe Cortez, retired from refereeing in September of 2012 and has been working as a boxing analyst for ESPN Sports ever since. Cortez was one of the most experienced referees in title fights, having worked in over 170 championship bouts during his career and saw most of the best in boxing today rise to up the ranks and become champions.
I recently had a chance to speak to Joe Cortez and get his thoughts on a fight that many wanted to see happen in the sport, but were ultimately disappointed in, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Cortez gave his thoughts on the fight, and how he thinks Mayweather performed. Joe also talked about Manny Pacquiao’s shoulder injury and if he thinks there should be a rematch. Additionally, Cortez gave his views on who Mayweather should fight next and also a possible Canelo vs. Cotto match. Here is what Joe Cortez had to say.
Robert Brown: What did you think of Floyd Mayweather’s win over Manny Pacquiao?
Joe Cortez: I was not surprised of the outcome, being that I was in the ring with Floyd Mayweather on four occasions as a referee and for three occasions for Pacquiao. I was able to — in my head — figure out that Pacquiao was going to have difficulties and any chance I gave him was if he got lucky and hit Mayweather with a good solid punch and hurt him, which that rarely happens.
I felt that was the only shot for Pacquiao and going into the twelfth round I said, “The only way he can win this fight is going to be by a knockout.” He had difficulties doing that and Mayweather showed the world again why he considers himself one of the great ones. There’s been many great fighters out there and he happens to be one of the top great fighters of all time because of his unbeaten record and his performance as far as beating the top fighters out there.
Robert Brown: Do you think that Pacquiao’s shoulder injury justifies a rematch?
Joe Cortez: I think Pacquiao showed some of his old skills in the past. I think that he was not as quick as he used to be. I think that Pacquiao really wanted to win this fight so bad. He let down his countrymen. Somebody told me that there were three fans in different parts of The Philippines that were so heartbroken that they died of a heart attack that night, when they heard the decision. That’s how upset they were.
Manny Pacquiao tried the best he could, he’s thirty six years old but Manny Pacquiao has been in some difficult fights in his career and therefore, it’s causing him not to be as sharp as he used to be five years ago.
Robert Brown: Do you think that we’ve seen that Mayweather is the better fighter and everybody should move on to other things?
Joe Cortez: Yeah I believe so. I think the fans gotta forget about that. They got what they wanted to see, the two fighters fought each other but if they were to have a rematch again, I don’t think there’s a reason for a rematch, it was not even close. They gotta move on.
Floyd Mayweather has one more fight on his contract with Showtime for the 200 million dollar deal that he has. He’s got one fight to go, he will probably fight in September and Pacquiao getting the surgery on his shoulder, he will not be ready to fight for close to another year again. Floyd Mayweather will be retired by then and I think the fight is in the books already and the better man won that night.
Pacquiao is a good guy and by the time his shoulder gets well, he will be thirty seven, I don’t think there’s really that much more left for Pacquiao. Mayweather, I think he has enough money in the bank that he can say, “You know what? I’m going to pass the torch on to other young fighters and relinquish my belts so that other fighters can get the opportunity to become champions.”
Robert Brown: Who do you think Mayweather will fight in his last fight? A lot of people think it might be Amir Khan for another big payday. Who do you think?
Joe Cortez: I think that Amir Khan would be a good fight, I think he’s earned his shot. He’s looked really good and sharp, so I think he deserves a shot. I think Mayweather would probably give him a shot in September. If he gets a shot in September, you never know. I think Amir Khan is going to have his hands full with Mayweather because of the style that Mayweather brings. Amir Khan is an outstanding fighter who I think has earned a shot at fighting Mayweather to see what he’s got.
Robert Brown: Do you expect that Canelo Alvarez will fight Miguel Cotto perhaps at a catchweight? If that fight occurred, who would you be favoring in that match up?
Joe Cortez: I think Canelo and Cotto would be a great fight. That’s a fight that the fans would like to see. There’s a great possibility that fight could happen in September. It’s gonna be a good fight for Canelo to maybe fight Cotto and I think that would be the fight that the fans would like to see.
Robert Brown: If you had to put money on that fight, who would you be backing?
Joe Cortez: That would be a tough fight to say, but I feel that Canelo is a very strong puncher, he’s a tough fighter and I think that Cotto is going to have his hands full with him. Cotto is a very experienced fighter. To me, it’s a very difficult fight to call.
Cotto has a lot of experience and Canelo is young and he has a good punch and good boxing skills, he’s definitely a harder puncher than Cotto. But ever since Freddie Roach has been training Cotto, Cotto has changed his style and become more and more of a defensive boxer and he could be dangerous as well. It’s a toss up for me.
Cortez is as blind as all the 3 judges! He’s already so old that he can’t see Pacquiao’s punches! Or is he also one of those paid by Mayweather! A bullshit referee also who ruled wrongly on a headbutt during Pacquiao-Morales fight! Wear double eyeglasses Joe Cortez! No one believes you anymore!
ulol
Joe is so full of shit..he needs to go watch the fight again in slow motion..the fight was very competitive..
bulag
he is in the payroll of floyd..im sure if that
ulol
Stupid Joe Cortez getting his gossip from the Stupid Flomo Hypemachine. Get your facts straight, old man, you’re supposed to be better than this! The four fatalities died DURING THE FIGHT, meaning they were so taken by excitement, they literately “could not take it anymore’, and their heart gave out. Now, we all know where exactly that EXCITEMENT came from: THE PACMAN. So in fact, these men died not because of disappointment for the loss to Mayweather, but because of the overall stress of watching the mega-fight. Goes to show that Joe “Firm but Fair…but also Flomo” Cortez is right there talking out of his @$$. Floyd didn’t dominate, in fact he got beat, in his own backyard no less. smdh
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http://manila.coconuts.co/2015/05/04/4-men-die-heart-attacks-while-watching-pacquiao-mayweather-fight-tv
Four men in their 60s died from heart attacks while watching the much-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight on Sun, May 3.
ABS-CBNnews.com reported on the first three cases.
In the town of Barcelona, Sorsogon, Jesus Datur, 62, suffered a heart attack after seeing the first round of the bout. He was a town councilor.
In Tabaco City, Albay, Adolfo Benoya Sr., 60, also suffered a heart attack while watching the bout’s second round. One of the last things he said while watching the fight was, “Hindi ko na kaya (I can’t take this).”
In Sta. Catalina, Ilocos Sur senior citizen Bonifacio Rabara, suffered a heart attack as he watched Pacquiao and Mayweather’s smackdown.
Meanwhile, Julie S. Alipala’s report in The Philippine Daily Inquirer reveals that Catalino Guevarra, 69, a resident of Barangay Talon-Talon, Zamboanga was found dead on the living room couch by his family during the 11th round of fight.
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I’ve been a witnessed of Joe Cortez style of being a third man in the square ring and for me he was very unfit of his role as a referee . Look what he did during the fight between Mayweather and Ortiz. He gave a go signal to start without looking the other boxer readiness to fight , when Mayweather delivered the sucker punch. In the case of Pacquiao and Mayweather , he rated and saw it as not even a closed fight to call for a rematch. Mr. Cortez , does this mean to show that you are on the state of memory lapses? How dare you to say that Mayweather was winning the fight, better check your eyesight for a 20/20 vision or you’re just bold to comment against Pacman because your wished was granted by Jr., Shame on you!!!!!
Dear JOE CORTEZ,
Thank u 4 allowing his hero Fraud JailWeather Jr. — USED HIS ELBOWS, FOREARMS, & SHOULDER TO HIT RICKY HATTON…….And much appreciation for letting ScumWeather Jr. get away with EXCESSIVE CLINCHING…
Joe, you are one of the most INEPT & INCOMPETENT referees next to ref. Kenny BrainLess and Carlos Padilla Jr….. (other than Thrilla In Manila, Padilla was a LOUSY & BRAIN DEAD ref of all time…. Boxers complained about him BEFORE-DURING-AFTER the fight)
Pacquiao should have retired when he got face-planted by Marquez. As soon as Mayweather tagged him in the first round with that counter straight right, Pacquiao was afraid to do anything the rest of the fight.
Ride off into the sunset, Manny, and take your rabble fan base with you. Its gotten so tiresome..
Watch the replay and see for yourself who’s the running and hugging for the whole fight. No one dominated the fight. It was a very close fight as both fighters were hesitant to engage specially Floyd.
Yeah!!!Your chicken Floyd aint nothing the whole round but riding his bicycles what a shame to the great american people the home of brave but chicken Floyd reluctant to engaged put his countrymen into shame. At the NBA championship your Floyd got booeeed…….
The 3 blind mice awarded the chicken based on Floyd payroll:
1.Running 10 points.
2.Hugging 10 points
3. Punching in the air 10 points.
4 Boring fight 10 points
Pacquiao is the real winner and chicken Floyd is the fake champion.
I don’t surprise what came out from Joe Cortez because Joe Cortez was on Floyd pay roll. That’s why he blind eyes when Floyd sucker punched his opponent.
Manny was robbed by 6 judges and commentators on 2 fights. These guys are shameless. I want Cortez to watch video again and ask him what he thinks. I know he will say Floyd won the fight.
The sport journalists, the judges and commentators are morally and ethically corrupted peoples. I believe these 3 judges were bribed by someone to favor Floyd.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. undefeated record was questionable. He had lost Jose Costello and Manny.
I hope the Manny’s lawyer will show video replay to Jury in court when the law suit goes to Court.
Burt Clements robbed Manny TWICE already. The first one was during the first Manny v. JMM fight, where he erroneously scored Round 1, 10-7 for Manny, instead of the correct score which is 10-6 due to the THREE knockdowns suffered by JMM resulting to a highly controversial Draw decision at the end of the Fight. He should have been forcibly retired by then, but Floyd listed him as one of the judges for the May-Pac last May 2, and the rest is history.
pathetic stupid joe cortez an obviously a mayweather ally im very pleased that he is retired a corrupt referee he doesnt deserve a hall of fame
Nobody will appreciate Mayweather jr’s skill and style in boxing,because its boring, picking referee,paying judges or paying opponents were the best things that mayweather jr has to do in order to win.
the best thing that mr joe the sleeping cortez does in boxing is when he retire from his job.
that’s the life of this writer – thinking of Manny Pacquiao
What just cortiz says? not even close? Whoa that’s a fucking ridiculous comments from from a bonehead individual like Joe what the fuck is he talking about? All I can say is gobfuck yourself Joe cortiz you’re a moron bald old fart.
I thought this Cortez has already retired a long time ago and I think I’ve said good riddance when I heard about it. He was really and always plays a blind and very bias third man in the ring. I can’t forgive the stupid guy for turning his bald head and blind eyes when Floyd the duck sucker punched the same stupid Ortiz. I wonder how these inept referees are being hired. I can only guess that they all have connections with NSAC. This includes all Las Vegas referees. All no good sob!
joe Cortez? i thought he retired into the sunset with the bounty he received from being a corrupt referee.
Joe Cortez you are a bull shit blind referre.
pacman won the fight! the least that gayweather could get is a draw. but the judges were blind…
At the outset of the fight, it clearly showed that Floyd was a bit scared but knowing the shoulder injury beforehand because of his spies in Pacquiao camp, he repeatedly grabbed Manny’s right arm after clinching (watch the video) to make the rotating cuff worse as it is. How can a scared fighter win a fight who just ran away from a fight most of the time? Joe Cortes is a scumbag corrupt ref and I am glad he retired from that position. Who knows maybe he got paid good enough to retire by Floyd and say all these crap about the mega fight. Come to think of it, Pacquiao may have saved a life by losing and by winning, the con artist might have committed suicide due to deep depression.
Yeah right. Ask your self first if you did a good job with floyd-ortiz. You biased piece of shit. The fight was close you dimwit.
Not even close?what fight did u watch joe…