TOP JUDGES AND REFEREES HONE THEIR SKILLS AT SEA (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 26 Oct 2017
The WBO judges and referees conducted a free-flowing seminar to hone their skills during the ongoing 30th WBO Convention aboard the luxury ship 'Norwegian Sky' as the 77 thousand tonnage ship with more than 2,000 vacationers left Havana, Cuba here Wednesday afternoon heading to The Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
The Maui Room on Deck 6 was filled with more than one hundred boxing officials, most of whom were and are responsible for officiating the biggest boxing events in the United States and all over the world. A lapse of judgment by any of them could make or break a boxer's career and break the hearts of millions of fans all over the world. Familiar faces, big names, controversial figures, up and coming and aspiring younger officials were all gathered under one roof.
The resource persons were composed of WBO first vice-president John Duggan, long time referee and now WBO third vice president Gino Rodriguez, judges Michael Pernick, Levi Martinez, Robin Taylor and Steve Weisfeld and referee Mark Nelson.
Among those participating in the seminar were familiar names Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks and Robert Byrd and his controversial wife Adalaide Byrd, Russell Mora, Laurence Cole, father and son Raul Caiz senior and junior and many others. Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan, boxing judge Salven Lagumbay and GAB chairman Abraham Mitra were also in attendance.
Boxing judge Levi Martinez (L) explains a point as retired referee Gino Rodriguez (R) looks on during the Officials Seminar during the ongoing 30th WBO Convention held aboard the Norwegian Sky luxury ship Wednesday.
More than one hundred officials attended the seminar.
Veteran judge Levi Martinez discussed the intricacies of scoring a fight while New York based judge Steve Weisfield explained the many ways a judge could commit a mistake and how to avoid them. Mark Nelson, who was the referee of the controversial Pacquiao-Horn fight, hosted the referee's seminar in a relaxed atmosphere.
One of the film clips that was reviewed was round 9 of the Pacquiao-Horn fight werein Horn was almost stopped by Pacquiao. The participants were divided in scoring the round as a 10-9 or 10-8 in Pacquiao's favor with several of them defended their scoring either way which showed just how difficult it is to get a consensus in difficult boxing situations.
Judge Steve Weisfeld (R) reviews round 9 of the Pacquiao-Horn fight.
Gino Rodriguez (in red shirt) speaks as Mark Nelson (R) hosts the referee's seminar.
Referee Kenny Bayless drives a point.
All in all, many said it was one of the best seminars conducted during a boxing convention and the officials came out of the room highly refreshed and ready to tackle their difficult assignments in the year ahead.
The activity will resume Thursday morning with the all important ratings committee discussion and executive committee meeting as the Norwegian Sky docks into the Great Stirrup Cay private island in the Bahamas at noon. The awards ceremony will be held in the afternoon and all the participants will have group dinner in the evening.
WBO first vice president John Duggan takes on the podium.
GAB chairman Abraham Mitra (2nd from right) is an interested participant.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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