The referee in the sport of boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of the ring during a boxing match.

The role of the referee

The boxing referee has many roles that encompass almost every aspect of a match. In the past, referees even were involved in judging the fight. But in the past 20 years, that role has been gradually eliminated because of fears of fixing.

Currently, the main role of the referee is to simply enforce the rules. Referees have 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
• Signal when the round is over
• Determines when one fighter's health will be endangered by more blows and thus, stops the fight.

Attire

Almost invariably, boxing referees wear the same basic uniform: a starched white shirt, black khaki-like slacks, black shined leather shoes and a bow tie.

Criticisms

Just like with officials in any form of sport, there are criticisms of boxing referees. The main one involves the subjective nature of boxing refereeing. There are general guidelines for referees, but it's difficult to determine when a foul has been committed or when a boxer has made it to the neutral corner after a knockdown, etc. Plus, there are always rumors that some referees, such as Richard Steele, have been paid by organized crime or others to fix or pre-determine the outcome of fights.

Famous referees

• Mills Lane
• Richard Steele
• Randy Neumann

External link

• How To Become a Boxing Official - website for a school on boxing referees.