Some of the work done by the British Boxing Board of Control is of the highest order.
It was revealed this week that Rio Fedinand’s bid to become a professional boxer has been rejected by the BBBC. The decision makes a lot of sense, given Ferdinand is 39 and is a few years on the wrong side of his athletic peak.
And, while his trainer is of the top calibre, Richie Woodhall, his fighter has never boxed.
Here in the North-East, the BBBC has earned good marks by instigating Glenn Foot v Josh Leather as a match for the British light-welterweight title though there is some doubt over the Guisborough man’s participation.
This week though it was disappointing to learn that two excellent North-East referees have been lost to our great sport.
Long-serving officials, Steve Hawkins and Graeme Williams have resigned with immediate effect, leaving the Northern Area Council with just one ref, Ron Kearney.
Punch-lines understands Hawkins and Williams called it a day after being overlooked for promotion to the A-list of referees.
Congratulations must go to Kearney, who was promoted to A standard, following a seamless transition from the amateur game to the professionals.
However, to overlook Big Steve and Graeme is an own goal from boxing’s authorities.
Each know how to handle and score a fight and both have done their apprenticeship, Steve having been a referee for five years and Graeme for 10.
Steve has taken charge of some crackers, Tom Whitfield’s six-round derby win over Daniel Cope springing to mind and, for my money, he got the verdict spot on.
Graeme (pictured above) is very much a ref who lets the fighters get on with it and if you go with the old sporting maxim of ‘the best referees are the ones you don’t see’ then the Billingham official fits the bill to a T.
For all that, Williams, a good amateur with Hartlepool Boys Welfare and a pro with the Gus Robinson Developments team, he would take no nonsense When Yorkshire trainer Chris Aston was complaining loudly and bitterly about a defeat for Youssef Al Hamidi in Gateshead a few years back, Williams gave him short shrift. Very short shrift in fact.
Kearney is a very good referee and when he transferred from the amateurs to the professionals, I was happy to endorse his capabilities with the then BBBC director, Fred Potter, having reported on numerous contests handled by Ron.
The North have been minus an A-lister since Andrew Wright’s departure late in 2016 until now. Indeed, when Billy Snaith defeated Daniel Cope to win his Northern Area title last May, Scottish ref, Kenny Pringle, was ‘the third man’ in Sedgefield, while when Darren Surtees stopped Ross Jamieson to win his belt in Houghton, the Southern Area’s Kevin Parker was the man in charge.
Strictly speaking, an Area Council could operate with NO referees, but when you have three very capable fellas then why not give them the status they deserve?
It’s a shame to see two men with such integrity and ability lost to pro boxing.
Words: Roy Kelly
