Cortez: under fire

Within five seconds he was breaking up the action and it was as if it was part of the plan. Every time they got together, before he even waited to see if they were going to throw a punch, he jumped in - and that suited Mayweather.

Jim Watt
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Big fight report
• Hatton reaction
• Mayweather reaction
• Round-by-round report

Jim Watt blasted referee Joe Cortez for his "deplorable" performance in Undefeated.

The referee came under fire for refusing to let the action flow as Ricky Hatton's dream of becoming the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world were shattered by Floyd Mayweather.

The Hitman was KO'd in the 10th round in Las Vegas and while Watt readily admitted that the Pretty Boy was just too good for Britain's finest, he was also quick to point out that the referee did him few favours.

"I thought Joe Cortez's performance was deplorable," he told Sky Box Office.

"Within five seconds he was breaking up the action and it was as if it was part of the plan.

"Every time they got together, before he even waited to see if they were going to throw a punch, he jumped in - and that suited Mayweather."

Watt was slightly happier with Hatton's performance, even if it ended in defeat.

He believes the Hitman did all he could, but at the end of the day, just came up against a fighter at the very top of his game - and the boxing tree.

"Unfortunately it just wasn't good enough," he said.

"He couldn't have done the job any different. I think his tactics were perfect, he stayed on Floyd Mayweather, didn't allow him any space.

"In the early stages Ricky was able to push him back and dictate the pace and everything was going fine.

"I was scoring rounds for him on sheer workrate but the problem was when it reached the stage where Floyd started standing his ground and pushing Ricky back.

"That's when the you knew there were problems. When the pace slowed Ricky started getting caught cleanly and you know the end was in sight."