The referee in

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...

is the individual charged with enforcing the

rules Rule or ruling may refer to: Education * Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), a university in Cambodia Human activity * The exercise of political or personal control by someone with authority or power * Business rule, a rule pert ...

of that sport during a match.

The role of the referee

The referee has the following roles: *Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight *Determines when to start or stop a count when a fighter is down *Determines when a foul is so egregious that a warning should be given or points taken away *Signals when the round is over *Determines when one fighter's health will be endangered by more blows, and thus, stops the fight. In the past, referees were involved in

judging Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as ''adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle su ...

the fight. However, that role has been progressively replaced by a panel of judges, except for domestic fights in some countries.

Attire

Normally, a white or blue Oxford shirt is worn, as well as black slacks, black leather shoes and a black bow tie. Latex gloves are sometimes worn for sanitary reasons. For professional matches a patch is usually worn on the left breast bearing the insignia of the organization sanctioning the fight. The referee may also wear a patch on his left sleeve bearing the flag of his home country. This is especially common in matches between fighters from two countries.

Criticisms

The main critique involves the subjective nature of boxing refereeing; there are guidelines for referees, but enforcement of the rules still involves judgement.

Notable referees

Stanley Christodoulou Stanley Christodoulou (Greek: Στάνλυ Χριστοδούλου; born 31 January 1946) is a South African international boxing judge and referee of Greek Cypriot descent. Christodoulou has judged bouts in his native South Africa, as well as int ...

Joe Cortez Joe Cortez (born October 13, 1945) is an American former boxing referee who has officiated in many important world title bouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. Biography Cortez is of Puerto Rican descent. H ...

* Kenny Bayless * Daniel Van de Wielejudge
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Ruby Goldstein Reuven "Ruby" Goldstein (October 7, 1907 – April 23, 1984), the "Jewel of the Ghetto", was an American boxer and prize fight referee. He was a serious World Lightweight Championship contender in the 1920s, and became one of U.S. most truste ...

Mills Lane Mills Bee Lane III (November 12, 1937 – December 6, 2022) was an American boxing referee and professional boxer, a two-term Washoe County, Nevada district court judge, and television personality. Lane was best known for having officiated se ...

Arthur Mercante Arthur Mercante Sr. (January 26, 1920 – April 10, 2010) was an American boxing referee. His career lasted from the 1960s until 2001. Mercante's son also became a noted referee. In his youth, Arthur Mercante Sr. was a member of the Merchant ...

Jay Nady Jay Nady (born August 23, 1947) is a championship boxing referee and the uncle of former Major League Baseball outfielder Xavier Nady. Biography Nady boxed and played football at the University of Nevada, Reno in the 1960s. For his accomplish ...

Randy Neumann Randolph Neumann (born July 21, 1948), raised in Cliffside Park, New Jersey,Randy Neumann
, New Jersey Boxing ...

Richard Steele Sir Richard Steele (bap. 12 March 1672 – 1 September 1729) was an Anglo-Irish writer, playwright, and politician, remembered as co-founder, with his friend Joseph Addison, of the magazine ''The Spectator (1711), The Spectator''. Early life ...

* Mickey Vann *

Pete Podgorski Pete Podgorski (born December 1953) is a former amateur and professional - Junior Welterweight, Welterweight & light middleweight boxer, as well as a boxing official. As an amateur, Podgorski compiled a 45-12 record, along with twenty knocko ...

Joey Curtis George Curtis (April 9, 1925 – May 13, 2004) was a professional boxer, referee and business owner who was licensed to officiate bouts in Las Vegas, Nevada. Curtis, who had an undistinguished career as a boxer, lived in Las Vegas for thir ...

Octavio Meyran Octavio Meyran Sanchez is a Mexican former boxing referee. During his career Meyran officiated at over twenty-seven world title fights including the No Más fight between Roberto Durán and Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, Wilfredo Gómez's WBC Feathe ...

Eddie Cotton Eddie Cotton, Jr. (June 15, 1926 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States — April 17, 2020 in Seattle) was a former boxer. Cotton was a resident of Seattle, Washington until his death on following a second liver transplant. Career Eddie Cotton wa ...

* Charles Eyton * Frank Cappuccino *

Steve Smoger Steve Smoger (August 15, 1950 – December 19, 2022) was an American boxing referee from Atlantic City, New Jersey. He refereed more than 200 title bouts, and was one of the more well-traveled of his profession, holding the distinction of offic ...

* Jon D. Schorle II * Tony Perez

References

{{reflist

External links

How to Become an Official - Boxing

* Book - Third Man in the Ring
*