Sorry, However I Must “Butt” In -
Holt KO Win Came From An Incompetent Nady

By Bret “The Threat” Newton


At a quick glance or a first over, Kendall Holt’s comeback from being down twice to knockout Ricardo Torres in only the first round of their highly anticipated rematch would lead to a stunned and entertained crowd. All 1 minute and 1 second of it. However, despite getting up twice to land a perfect shot that put Torres out (notice I didn’t say “down and out”) without movement and the need for a count was due Jay Nady’s failure as a referee. Torres was already down before the shot landed. Torres was down, on the bottom rope, with his hands down, due to a HEADBUTT from Holt. You can’t blame Holt for taking the initiative and landing the blow on an un-defending Torres, but you must blame the referee for not stepping in when he should have as soon as Torres fell to the ropes from the accidental clash of heads.

Jay Nady failed to step in fast enough not once, but twice, in this fight alone. The fight started fast, not many expected it to be as high paced as it was, nor last as short as it did. Apparently neither did Nady. It was a quick right hook from Torres that landed flush on the chin, and Holt was down, seconds into the fight. Holt got up rather quickly to brush the knockdown off, but it was apparent that Torres meant business this time so that the word “controversial” didn’t hover over their second fight. Too bad for Torres because that’s exactly what was about to happen. As the fight resumed, both fighters were in each others face, trading shots. Torres landing the power shots, connecting on a staggering Holt who again fell to the canvas. Nady was slow to jump in as Holt rose to his feet and took another straight shot on the chin from Torres that could have ended the fight on it’s own. Nady began the 10 count as Holt complained. That was Nady’s first failure to act fast enough.

Then came the finish. The two were again trading in the center of the ring, with Holt getting pushed to the ropes from the power punches from Torres. Then up came Holt’s head from under, bashing into the chin of Torres, snapping his head back. Torres staggered, and fell to the bottom rope with his hands not protecting his head. In came Holt with a monster right hand that landed on the temple of Torres and he was immediately rendered unconscious. No count necessary. The shot and comeback was a great one, but it should not have counted as Torres was already knocked down from a headbutt, he wasn’t floored from a punch. Like I said, the headbutt is what “downed” Torres, the punch is just was put him “out”.

It's the referee's job to be on top of these things. Once a headbutt occurs, the time is paused and several things are gone over quickly. You check to see if either fighter is cut. You give the fighter time to recuperate if it was a debilitating shot (like this one was). Points are taken away if it was intentional. This one appeared accidental, but it was never even looked at as being a factor which is astounding when it basically caused an entire knockdown all on it's own, without the finishing shot from Holt. Watch Torres in complete control, then all of a sudden stagger and fall to the ropes. It wasn't from a Holt punch, that's 100% guaranteed.

Sorry to take away from what looked to be a Hagler vs. Hearns type fight, all rolled into a single minute of a single round, but like their first fight, it ends with controversy. This fight should be over turned to a "No Contest", and I believe a third is absolutely necessary.


Questions or Comments? Please Contact Bret “The Threat” Newton