Video: Boxing ref Steve Willis has the best mid-fight reactions

Keith Thurman vs. Josesito Lopez was entertaining, and referee Steve Willis was really dialed in for this one.

In Saturday night’s PBC on FOX main event, WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman’s return to the ring proved tougher than expected, as he survived getting badly hurt in round seven to win a majority decision over heavy underdog Josesito Lopez. Thurman (29-0-1 NC, 22 KOs) had been out of action for two years due to injuries, and despite an early knockdown of Lopez (36-8-1 NC, 19 KOs), this “tune-up” fight was no walk in the park.

While Thurman and Lopez put on a show at Barclays Center, we cannot ignore that one of the highlights of the evening was the presence of referee Steve Willis. He’s well known for his uh… very demonstrative facial expressions in the ring, and this bout was no different. Check out his reaction to Lopez’s onslaught that had Thurman in trouble in the seventh.

Willis is pretty well-regarded as a quality referee outside of watching him get really really hyped over good action in the ring. He’s certainly got a history of going viral due to his hilarious reactions.

Willis, a former stand-up comedian, is obviously self-aware. He said a couple of years back in an interview, “Y’all need to stop watching me and watch the fight. I’ve been wanting to say that for the last three, four fights. Stop watching me and watch the fight. There ain’t nothing to see here!”

Sorry, Steve. If you’re going to keep giving us these great moments, we’re going to keep watching you.