Local Sport

Exeter hope for new twin-town

Councillors from Exeter City Council are set to visit an area of New York later this month in the hope of setting up a new 'twin town' for the city. The Councillors will visit the area where boxing referee Joe Cortez comes from, in the hope they can form an allegiance that will bestow his 'home-town' refereeing style to the benefit of Exeter boxers.

Experienced boxing ref Joe Cortez produced an unusual refereeing display in the early hours of Sunday morning. In the world title fight between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, for the first two rounds it appeared that Cortez was actually Mayweather's bodyguard, desperately splitting up or actually jumping between the two fighters whenever they got close to each other. Cortez further mystified fans in round 6 when 'Pretty Boy' Floyd became 'Gayboy' Floyd, as he turned around and bent over between the ropes. Ref Cortez immediately jumped in and docked Hatton a point for attempting to punch Mayweather, apparently the instruction given by every other referee to every other boxer before every other fight of 'protect yourself at all times', was forgotten. For the rest of the fight Mayweather used the tactic of using his elbow or forearm to repel attacks, although according to Cortez this was fine.

If the Council can succeed in twinning Exeter with Cortez's birthplace, the referee will become the first choice for all local boxers where his 'home-town' style of reffing should help to tip the balance in close contests.

More information