Alright, so you wanna be a boxing judge, huh? It ain’t rocket science, but it ain’t just sittin’ around eatin’ popcorn neither. You gotta know your stuff, and you gotta be fair, real fair. Like, fairer than a farmer divvying up the harvest, ya hear?
First off, you gotta love boxing. Can’t be one of them fellers who just watches for the knockouts. You gotta see the whole thing, the jabs, the footwork, the defense… all that jazz. If you just wanna see guys pummel each other, go watch a bar fight. This is serious business, like tellin’ the difference between a good tomato and a bad one.
Now, seems like you gotta get yourself hooked up with USA Boxing. They’re the big shots, the ones who say who’s official and who ain’t. Gotta register with them every year, like payin’ your dues at the church social, only this time it’s for punchin’ folks, well, judgin’ punchin’ folks.
Then there’s this SafeSport Certification thing. Sounds fancy, but it’s just makin’ sure you ain’t gonna be causin’ no trouble, you know? Treatin’ everyone right, not bein’ a creep. It’s online, so even my old neighbor Bessie could do it, and she can barely turn on the TV.
- You gotta learn the rules, too. They got a rulebook, thicker than my grandma’s cookbook. Gotta know what’s a foul and what ain’t. Can’t be callin’ a low blow a love tap, ya know?
- They got these clinics, like school for boxin’ judges. Or you can take a test online. Either way, you gotta prove you know a hook from a jab. They ain’t gonna let just anybody judge a fight, just like I wouldn’t let just anybody milk my cow.
And speakin’ of learnin’, you gotta get some experience. Start small, maybe judge some amateur fights. You know, the young fellers just startin’ out. That’s how you learn to see the punches, see who’s winnin’ and who’s just flailin’ around like a chicken with its head cut off. You don’t learn to plow a field by just lookin’ at it, you gotta get your hands dirty.
Now, bein’ a boxing judge ain’t gonna make you rich, not unless you’re judgin’ the big-time fights, the ones on TV. Most of the time, you’ll be makin’ a few bucks an hour, enough to buy a good pie maybe. But if you get good, real good, and you get to judge them championship fights… well, then you might be makin’ some real dough. Like enough to buy a whole bakery, not just one pie.
But it ain’t about the money, see? It’s about bein’ fair, about makin’ sure the right feller wins. It’s about respectin’ the sport and respectin’ the fighters. They’re puttin’ their bodies on the line, and you gotta make sure they get a fair shake. Like makin’ sure everyone gets their fair share of the apple pie at the county fair.
Being a good boxing judge means you gotta have eyes like a hawk. You gotta see everything – every punch, every dodge, every little move. And you gotta be able to tell who’s landin’ the punches and who’s just wastin’ energy. It’s like tellin’ the difference between a real diamond and a piece of glass, gotta have a good eye for detail.
It’s a tough job, no doubt about it. You’ll get yelled at, folks will disagree with your calls, but you gotta stand your ground, gotta be confident in what you saw. And most importantly, you gotta be honest. If you can’t be honest, then you got no business bein’ a judge, in the ring or anywhere else.
So, if you got the love for the sport, the brains to learn the rules, and the guts to make the tough calls, then maybe, just maybe, you got what it takes to be a boxing judge. Just remember, fair and square, that’s all that matters. Like a good day’s work, honest and true.
Remember, becoming a boxing judge is about passion, dedication, and fairness. Don’t expect to get rich overnight, but if you do it right, you’ll be making an honest living doing something you love, and that’s worth more than all the money in the world.
Tags: [boxing judge, how to become, USA Boxing, boxing rules, boxing official, SafeSport Certification, boxing career, sports officiating, boxing judge salary, boxing judge requirements]
