.jpg)
Steele officiating the Tyson-Botha bout (Photo: Roger Williams)
For all the things that referee extraordinaire Richard Steele knows about in life, boxing is certainly one of them. Steele would first experience the sport when he was in the Marine Corps and later venture off into his own professional career as a fighter before eventually trying out the world of officiating. Throughout his times in the game Steele has experienced much and still finds himself involved in boxing to this very day.
As a referee in particular Steele has traveled the world over, met countless celebrities and boxing personalities, while also officiating 167 world title bouts. It has been quite the ride for the Los Angeles native and he could be forgiven for letting his memory slip on occasion when discussing his life and times in the sport but amazingly Steele remembers just about everything as if it was yesterday.
Speaking from his personal gym, Richard Steele Boxing Club, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the famed referee’s mind is somewhat like a steel trap when discussing his dearest memories connected to boxing. When asked about one of today’s top trainers, Freddie Roach, Steele is beyond reflective and recalls his first encounter with the Massachusetts native with much joy.
“I met Freddie in Las Vegas when Eddie Futch was training him at the Golden Gloves Gym,” Steele recalled earlier this week. “Eddie told me to come to the gym. At the time Mr. Futch and my wife were business partners and they owned a fighter together. I got to be around Freddie when he and his brothers were fighting. I’ve been around Freddie for a long time and have gotten to see many sides of him.”
Discussing further, Steele saw that Futch was a great mentor for Roach and could see well ahead of time that the learning lessons he was taking in would end up paying off tremendously in other forms. Even before Roach would begin his foray into the training field, Steele could see the possibilities.
“I always knew that Freddie would end up becoming a great trainer because Eddie Futch was a great teacher,” Steele points out. “Even though he was fighting at the time he was still learning things from Eddie. I saw something in him that made me believe he would also be a great teacher.”
How Freddie became a trainer was a story in itself, however. Like many fighters, Roach perhaps tried to hang on a little bit too long and needed to be told when to let it go. And just like many fighters from years past, Roach too had the desire to remain a part of the sport he loved so much.
“Eddie was the type of person to really tell you how he felt,” Steele reflects. “If he saw that you couldn’t fight anymore he would tell you to get a job and that’s what happened with Freddie. He told Freddie to call it a day but Freddie said in return that Eddie needed to train him so that he would become a trainer. That’s how it all started and who would have thought that Freddie would go on to become one of the greatest trainers of all time.”
From that point forward Roach had two essential things towards making the transition to a trainer; a good teacher and the desire to make it happen. Schooling and desire is a great foundation but there obviously was more to the equation than just that. Elaborating further, Steele opens up as to why Roach was so successful in his ‘second life’ in boxing.
“First off I believed he learned so much from the best in Mr. Futch,” Steele remarks. “Second off, he put everything into it. He was a good little fighter himself. What he does so well is that he doesn’t train people the way he fought. That’s where a lot of trainers make mistakes because they try to teach fighters to fight like they want them to fight. Freddie just takes your strengths and develops them while adding to them.”
In talking about Roach it’s easy for Steele to get reflective and sentimental. But when the topic is turned to Roach’s key fighter, Manny Pacquiao, and his upcoming November 14th bout against WBO champion Miguel Cotto, Steele is less attached. When talking about Cotto specifically, Steele remembers not being impressed upon first glance.
“I do remember him from the Olympics,” Steele reflects. “I remember when Top Rank signed him that I didn’t think too much of him but they’ve proved over time that he is a good fighter. He has gotten better and better each fight. Cotto has shown that he is a great fighter and he has a lot of years left in him.”
Steele would go on to say that he felt Cotto may have been the victim of corruption in his bout with Antonio Margarito because of possible ‘substances’ that could have existed in the Tijuana fighter’s gloves. Steele went on to give his respect to Cotto, but when pressed on whether he felt if the Puerto Rican had enough left to defeat Pacquiao the grizzled veteran had to go in a different direction.
“Pacquiao is my man,” Steele countered. “I just think he’s going to be too strong for Cotto. Not physically but I think he’s too mentally strong for Cotto. I think that is what is going to allow him to take over the fight.”
Chris Robinson is a freelance journalist based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He tries to remain objective as possible in all of his articles, putting any personal agendas or bias off to the side. He can be reached at AceFreitas2001@yahoo.com and www.FaceBook.com/CRHarmony. More of his articles can be found by clicking the links below.
The Intertwining Lives of Pacquiao, Mayweather, and Cotto
The Daily Grind: Pacquiao-Cotto Directory, Dawson-Johnson II, Judah's Return and more Harold Lederman remembers the electricity of Pacquiao-Hatton Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7, Episode 1 Highlights and Quotes Pacquiao-Cotto: Counting down the numbers The Daily Grind: Pacquiao-Cotto, Froch-Dirrell, Frias on ShoBox, and more... Harold Lederman Remembers the Atmosphere of Cotto-Judah Live From the Fight Factory: Trainer Pete Fernandez Picks Cotto to Stop Pacquiao in Nine All around Class: Boxing Manager Cameron Dunkin Speaks on the Amazing Stories of Pacquiao and Cotto No Hard Feelings: 'Gato' Figueroa speaks on his early dismissal from Camp Cotto Other Side of the Coin: HBO Judge Harold Lederman turns his attention to Miguel Cotto
Comments
Thanks alot for another great article.
not physically but mentally. wow!
nice little article. it's nice to get a respected ref's side of things. how about ref Carlos Padilla Jr? Great ref in Thrilla in Manila but the lousiest ref ever on all other fights that he reffed.
Pacquiao has too many weapons while Cotto only has his left hook. Manny is much more mentally strong than Cotto.
Let's go Pac!
sometimes when we touch, the honesty too much..... LOL
Great article! you made my day
RS is a very competent referee and seems to be a nice person. He did not attract controversies in doing fights because he is very professional unlike other referees because of incompetence and biased against one fighter (like Nady)the fight turned ugly.
that's wisdom from the man who for many years have been involved in boxing....keep it up!
If Cotto beats pac on Nov. 15, he will be the greatest fighter of all time. He will improve so much and regain his focus just like his first loss to Erik Morales... Just imagine, Pac is already this good with all that distraction going on. He was like this after he beat Barrera but he even turned down a Nike commercial in 2005 while he was training for his rematch with Morales and look how greatly he improved in that fight.
If he looses aginst Cotto, he will change his mind about his political plans this coming 2010 and beat Cotto in their 2nd and 3rd meeting/ Then fight Marquez, Mosley and PBF.. Like a man regaining focus on his destiny, he will beat them all and be remembered as truly and undisputedly the greatest fighter of all time. =)
If he beats Cotto, he will fight Marquez next year for the last time making an excuse "to shut Marquez up forever" then run for congressman and fight Gayweather as the 1st ever fighting congressman in the world. Then he'll get an ass beating. And unlike Cotto who is a real warrior, he wont have any chance at revenge against Gayweather coz he is too smart and he knows how good Pacquiao and Roach is at making adjustments especially I Pac is focused. This is Floyd’s greatest talent in and out of the ring…exploiting weaknesses and running away if he feels there is danger.
Floyd will have the last laugh and be declared as the greatest fighter of this decade.
Im just wondering with all of Pacquaios massive publicity and the thousands of writers writing an article about him that "his gonna do this to Cotto and do that", and with all that attention he gets from famous celebrities to famous athletes in world and all the support of his country.While Cottos status is totally lost in space..But what if Cottos upsets and shocks everyone with a KO' over Manny Pacquaio???
Then its silence........
Actually Richard Steele has been known to be a controversial referee for halting the bout prematurely between Julio Caesar Chavez & Meldrick Taylor in 1990. Taylor was winning the fight on the scorecards but Chavez knocked him down in the last round. With only 2 seconds left in the fight and Taylor still standing, Richard Steele stopped it. Many have argued that Steele should have let the 2 seconds continue and Taylor would have won the decision. Many hated Richard Steele after that fight. Whenever Steele was introduced in any fight, people would boo him profusely. It was common to hear people boo Steele in the fights he refereed bc of that fight and has carried the reputation as being a controversial referee ever since.
i saw one of manny's open media workout on you tube. while doing the mits i heard buboy (asistant and best friend of manny) in the background saying "relax lang huwag mong ipakita lahat". while others were so amazed with the way manny doing his work out, it seems that we still havent seen the real speed and power punch of the pacman! cant wait to see the fight on nov 14, good luck to both fighters! may the best man win!
oh one more thing! some times wen we tats the honesty to mats and i have to close my ice and hide! LOL! peace manny!
Breaking news: David letterman has invited Pacman to his show.
He will be in the Stupid Pet Tricks portion.
Letterman was amazed how Manny the Chimp can sing.
thanks for this great article.get more boxing updates for pacquiao vs cotto fight at pacquiaoandcotto.wordpress.com
WHATEVER YOU SAY PACHATERS ITS STILL THE REALITY COUNTS.. PACMAN IS THE MOST POPULAR STAR IN BOXING NOW.. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND HE'S FROM POOR BUT GOD LOVING COUNTRY PHILIPPINES... SO WAIT AND SEE ON NOV. 14, ITS GONNA BE THE 7TH WEIGHT CATEGORY BELT OF MANNY! THAT'S FOR SURE FOR THE NO. 1 P4P KING!
Beating the like of Cotto who is a legitimate welterweight, is a very tall order for Pacquiao. He is fighting a great fighter who is beyond north of his natural fighting weight as light welterweight. But Pacquiao has something to prove. He is a man with NO FEAR. Taking all chances brave enough to face even those extra ordinary challenges. And because of his humility, his love for his countrymen, eagerness to support those needy and less fortunate, but above all his deep faith in God... he will win. No need for Mayweather. No need for Marquez III. His legacy is very much firm.
To all doubters and haters:
How many times Manny Pacquiao prove you wrong?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!