Alright, listen up, y’all. You 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 how it is, the way I see it.
First things first, you gotta know the rules. I mean, really know ’em. Can’t be guessin’ when two fellas are beatin’ the tar outta each other. You need to know what’s a punch and what ain’t, what’s a foul and what ain’t. They got these places, see? Boxing referee training courses, they call ’em. Or you can do it online, if you’re fancy like that. But you gotta learn them rules, that’s for sure.
- Learn the rules.
- Attend training courses.
- Get certified.
Now, after you get some learnin’ in your head, you gotta get yourself certified. Think of it like gettin’ a driver’s license, but for boxin’ refs. Different places have different rules, so you gotta check with your local boxing commission, or whatever they call it. They’ll tell ya what you gotta do. Might be an exam, might be some testin’, might be you gotta show ’em you know what you’re doin’ in the ring. It ain’t the same everywhere, so ya gotta ask around.
And speakin’ of knowin’ what you’re doin’, you gotta be in decent shape yourself. I ain’t sayin’ you gotta be a bodybuilder or nothin’, but you gotta be able to move around that ring, keep up with the fighters. You can’t be huffin’ and puffin’ after one round, that’s for sure. Gotta be on your feet and ready to move so you see everything going on.
Another thing, you gotta have good eyes and ears. You gotta see every punch, every little move. And you gotta hear what them fellas are sayin’ in the clinch. Sometimes, they get a little too close for comfort, you know? You gotta make sure they ain’t bitin’ or head-buttin’ or doin’ nothin’ dirty. That’s the referee’s responsibility you see? Gotta keep it clean in there.
Now, this part’s important, pay attention. You gotta be fair. Can’t be favorin’ one fella over the other. I don’t care if one’s your cousin or your best friend’s son, you gotta call it like you see it. That’s your job. You’re there to make sure the fight’s fair, ain’t nobody gettin’ cheated. If there’s a knock out, you need to get in there quick! It’s your job to protect the fighters.
And you gotta be tough. These fellas, they’re tough guys, right? They gettin’ punched in the face, they ain’t always happy. They might yell at you, they might cuss you out. You gotta take it. You can’t get all flustered and lose your cool. You gotta be the calmest person in the room. Sometimes they don’t like what you call, but it’s up to you to keep the order. You’re the boss of that ring, don’t forget it.
Some folks, they wonder about the money. Well, let me tell ya, you ain’t gonna get rich bein’ a boxing referee, ‘less you’re workin’ the big-time fights. You know, the ones on TV? Most of the time, you’ll get paid by the fight, and it ain’t always a lot. But if you’re good, and you keep at it, you can make a decent livin’. But don’t go into it for the money, do it ’cause you love the sport. Boxing referee salary depends on how popular you get, I think.
So, there you have it. That’s how you become a boxing referee, as far as I can tell. It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes a whole lotta guts. But if you’re up for the challenge, it can be a mighty rewardin’ job. You get to be right there in the action, seein’ some of the best athletes in the world do their thing. And you get to be the one makin’ sure it’s all fair and square. That’s a big job for one person if ya ask me. But some people are just made for it I guess.
So, go on, get yourself educated, get yourself certified, and get yourself in that ring. You might just find you’re a natural. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll see you on TV, ref’in a championship fight. Just remember what I told ya, and you’ll do just fine. And don’t you forget to keep learning! They change the rules all the time, so you gotta keep up with it. That’s how you stay at the top of the game and how you become a good boxing referee, ya hear?
