McTAVISH NAMED 'REFEREE OF THE YEAR' BY WBC
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Oct 2017
Long time Philippine resident Bruce McTavish, originally from New Zealand, was named 'Referee of the Year' in the just concluded 55th WBC Convention held in Baku, Azerbaijan Oct. 1 to 6. The WBC also honored McTavish with the same recognition in 2013 and 2015.
The veteran McTavish has refereed more than 1,500 fights in a career that spanned more than 40 years, more than 100 of those were for world title fights. The last world title fight he officiated was between undefeated Thai Chayaphon Moonsri who successfully defended his WBC world minimumweight title against Australian resident Omari Kemwiri of Tanzania on June 3, 2107 in Rayong, Thailand.
?The WBC convention in Baku was a great surprise,? McTavish informed Philboxing in a text message. ?The city's hospitality was first class. The Philippines was honored to have its Games and Amusement Board named as top commission by the WBC and yours truly as the top referee.?
McTavish, 76, boxed as an amateur and retired with a record of 31 wins and 2 loses. He also played rugby and basketball and was a member of the New Zealand national basketball team. In 1967, he settled in the Philippines residing in Angeles City, Pampanga. He later married Carmen Tayag with whom he had two daughters.
McTavish is also well known for his philanthropic activities. He was a member of the Rotary Club in the Philippines. From 1983 to 1984, McTavish served as president of the Rotary Club of Mabalacat in Pampanga. During his term he introduced the Polio Plus Project, the pilot program which became the basis of Rotary International efforts eradicate polio worldwide. McTavish is currently involved with the Bahay Bata Foundation, a residence center for street children in Angeles, Pampanga, as the chairman of the center's board of trustees. Bahay Bata is a project of Rotary Club of Clark Centennial.
McTavish attempted several times to gain a Filipino citizenship but has so far been unsuccessful.
Top photo: Referee Bruce McTavish (C) receives his trophy from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman (R) and Azerbaijan boxing official (L) during the WBC's 55th convention held in Baku, Azerbaijan first week of October.
Sulaiman poses with McTavish and the Philippine delegation.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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