Ringnews24.com: You had a pretty extensive fighting career yourself before putting on the bow tie as the third man in the ring, what advantages do you think that affords a Ref having been a pugilist himself?
Ian John Lewis: It’s a great advantage, as I believe that I do have a better insight with the action taking place inside the ring.
Ringnews24.com: Could you tell us a bit about and how and why you became become a referee?
Ian John Lewis: In 1989 I was hired to spar with the very good fighter Gary Jacobs from Scotland, we had a week of intensive sparring and to be honest we kicked the hell out of each other on a daily basis. I was chatting to my manager he asked me what I was going to do after my career, I was considering going into coaching and training fighters. He said “I think you would make a excellent referee” which did stick in my mind after I retired from the ring
Ringnews24.com: Who were your favourite fighters when you were growing up?, Who is your favourite ref from the past and in the US?
Ian John Lewis: Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler,as regards to the referee I wanted to be the UK version of Richard Steel of the USA referee who was one of the very best in my opinion.
Ringnews24.com: It must be difficult to know when to stop a fight as a referee, you will no doubt have the fighters safety always in your head. When you make a stoppage premature as a referee you will always be in the line of fire, make a decision was too late and it could be the end your career and have a dramatic impact on a fighters health. How hard a call is it to make ?
Ian John Lewis: It is the hardest part of being a referee, to make the decision when to stop a fight .I tend to use common sense when I think the fight become’s uncompetitive, and I will step in and stop it.
Ringnews24.com: Having refereed and judged a number of high profile and great fights over the years, which one stands out as your favourite?
Ian John Lewis: The Klitschko v Briggs World Heavyweight Title Fight,i am so proud that i was only the fifth UK referee to handle a fight for the Heavyweight Title.
Ringnews24.com: Who was your least favourite fighter to try and handle in the ring? Is there anyone who constantly tried to push their luck?
Ian John Lewis: None really, being a ex fighter myself the boxer seem to respect that.
Ringnews24.com: How difficult do you find handling a bout when neither boxer speaks English?
Ian John Lewis: None really as boxing is Universal,but one incident when I was the referee in Japan stands out in my mind. When I told them to touch glove’s before the contest,they both just looked at me. So I grabbed both fighters glove’s and touched them myself, I did get some stick from the other referee’s on the bill.
Ringnews24.com: In all the fights you have officiated have you ever taken an ‘accidental’ punch?
Ian John Lewis: LOL yes once in a Heavyweight fight in Brighton, I got clipped by a punch, and before you ask I did not hit the canvas LOL .
Ringnews24.com: What has been your favourite fight that you have been involved in as a professional referee?
Ian John Lewis: The Ricky Hatton v Vernon Phillips fight,the atmosphere was electric with thousands of Manchunians in full voice.The hairs on the back of my neck stood up it was unbelievable night.
Ringnews24.com: You took some criticism for not stopping the Klitschko-Briggs fight, did you think that more of that criticism should’ve been directed at Briggs Corner which kept sending him out round-after-round with no hope of actually winning?
Ian John Lewis: I would not say Briggs had no hope of winning, as in boxing it only take’s one punch to turn the tide. I did go to the corner and asked if they wanted to call it off, the corner and Briggs said don’t stop it referee, but in hindsight I could have stopped it in the tenth round.
Ringnews24.com: How hard was it refereeing Pascal Hopkins 2? Bernard seemed to keep you busy in the fight .
Ian John Lewis: Bernard is a wily old fox, and he pulls every trick in the book and then some. I just ignored his trick’s and told him to keep boxing, but he is truly a amazing fighter to still be there at his age.
Ringnews24.com: Judges can sometimes come up with huge variances in scorecards, Is it personal preferences for aggression, work rate, power punches landed etc? When your scoring as a judge what do you look out for?
Ian John Lewis: Punches landed, who is dominating the round and most important scoring the full three minute’s.
Ringnews24.com: Do judges need more help? What can be done to help improve judging?
Ian John Lewis: No not really, judges score by what they see taking place in the ring and different side’s of the ring the judge may see slightly less or more so score’s can vary.
Ringnews24.com: Who pays the referee and judges is it the promoter or the board of control?
Ian John Lewis: Promoters
Ringnews24.com: Thanks very much Ian it’s very good of you to share a insight into your career and good luck to you from all at Ringside 24.
Ian John Lewis: It’s been a pleasure.
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