Alright, so ya wanna know how to be one of them boxing referees, huh? It ain’t rocket science, but it ain’t easy neither. Let me tell ya, it’s more than just yellin’ “break” and wavin’ yer arms around like a scarecrow.
First off, ya gotta get yerself hooked up with some official boxing folks. Like, in the States, there’s this thing called USA Boxing. You gotta register with them every year, like payin’ yer dues or somethin’. And then ya gotta take this safety course, they call it “SafeSport Certification,” all done on that there computer thingy. After that, ya gotta prove ya know somethin’ about the rules. They got a test ya can take online, or ya can go to one of them clinics, they call ’em “officials’ clinics,” where some fella teaches ya the ropes. Them clinics are run by yer local boxing fellas, ya know, yer “LBC” they call it.
Now, listen up, ’cause this is important. Ya can’t just be some dumb fella off the street. Ya gotta know the rules of boxin’ inside and out. Think of it like bakin’ a cake; ya can’t just throw stuff together and expect it to taste good. Ya gotta follow the recipe, and the rules are the recipe for a good fight. They got courses ya can take, online and in person, to learn all that stuff. And some places, like states or countries, they want ya to have a special paper, a license or somethin’, to show yer qualified. It’s like gettin’ a driver’s license, but for boxin’ refs.
- Register with USA Boxing (or your local organization)
- Complete the SafeSport Certification
- Pass the online officials’ test or attend a clinic
- Learn the rules and regulations of boxing
- Obtain a license if required
If ya wanna ref the big fights, the championship ones, ya gotta go through somethin’ extra. There’s this group called the Association of Boxing Commissions, and they got their own course. Ya gotta pass that to get on the list for the big-time matches. The folks in charge of the fight, they call ’em the “host commission,” they pick the ref from that list. It’s like bein’ on the A-list for boxin’ refs, ya know?
Now, let’s talk about money, ’cause ain’t nobody workin’ for free, right? Most refs, they don’t make a whole lot. It’s a job ya do ’cause ya love it, not ’cause it’ll make ya rich. But if ya get good enough, and ya ref for the famous fellas, like that Mayweather fella or that Fury giant, well then ya can make some serious dough. I heard tell of refs makin’ thirty thousand dollars for just one fight! That’s more money than I’ve seen in my whole life! But that’s rare, most of the time a ref can make anything from twenty-five thousand dollars to over a hundred thousand in a year. But don’t get yer hopes up, it takes a lot of time and hard work to get to that level.
Being a ref ain’t just about knowin’ the rules, though. Ya gotta be in charge, like the boss of the ring. They say it’s the hardest job in sports, and I reckon they might be right. Ya gotta keep them fighters safe, ya gotta make sure they fight fair, and ya gotta make quick decisions under pressure. It ain’t for the faint of heart, that’s for sure. Ya gotta be tough, but fair. Ya can’t be scared of them fighters, even if they are big and mean-looking. Ya gotta be able to step in and break them up when they get too rowdy.
And another thing, ya gotta be a “mature person”, that’s what them fancy folks say. That means ya can’t be some young whippersnapper who don’t know nothin’. Ya gotta be calm and steady, and ya can’t let yer emotions get the best of ya. And ya gotta know the rules, like I said before, but it ain’t just the rules of boxin’, it’s the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control, or whatever board is in charge where ya are. They got their own set of rules, and ya gotta know them too. Ya have to show them that you’re good enough to do the job. That you know your stuff and you can keep them fighters safe.
So, there ya have it. That’s the long and short of it. If ya wanna be a boxin’ ref, ya gotta work hard, learn the rules, and be tougher than a boiled owl. It ain’t a easy job, but if ya love boxin’ and ya got the guts, then maybe it’s the job for you. Just remember, be fair, be firm, and don’t let them fighters pull any funny business. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be the one in the ring, makin’ the big bucks and keepin’ them boxers in line. But don’t say I didn’t warn ya, it’s a tough gig!
