Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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T&T’s 3-star Boxing Referee concludes workshop CBC scheduled to begin at CASH this Evening
Trinidadian James Beckles, a 3-star referee (the highest level) of the international boxing association AIBA, yesterday concluded a five-day workshop on Refereeing and Judging at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Boxing Gym in Albouystown were the practical sessions were held.
The aim of the Workshop, which was also held at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Ave were theoretical sessions where conducted, is to help improve the standard of referees and judges locally and also to bring them up to speed with several changes made to the rules of the sport internationally.
Yesterday’s sessions also included one of the seven overseas Referees/Judges set to officiate at the four-night 2018 Caribbean Boxing Championship (CBC) at National Sports Hall (CASH) scheduled to commence at 16:00hrs this afternoon.
National Boxing Coach Terrence Pool was among those at Six Head Gym yesterday.
The 57-year-old Beckles is the Caribbean’s highest AIBA-ranked boxing referee and his presence in Guyana is synonymous with international competitions here.
Beckles, officiated inside the Ring in over 300 International Boxing matches including the Beijing Olympics and five World Championships and last visited Guyana in August for the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors tournament and is now back for the CBC scheduled for this Evening.
“There has been refereeing and judging concerns during a few tournaments in the past and in addressing this aspect of the sport will help ensure minimal errors and boxers and fans will be more satisfied with the results of fights,” Beckles explained.
His role at the CBC is as an Evaluator of the Referees and Judges and the former T&T Policeman outlined what he would be looking for during the Championships and focused yesterday on how Judges and referees could lose points and the three main things to look at during a bout.
“Scoring bouts seem to be the most problematic issue for the spectators and even Coaches since most times they seem dissatisfied with decisions and at times can be hostile towards the Referees when they make decisions they don’t like,” Beckles said.
Beckles said that good Referees looks at the eyes, knees and arms of boxers since this could indicate the physical condition of the Boxers while he stressed Judges need to look (1) the number of quality blows to the targets, (2) dominance of a bout tactically and technically and competitiveness.
In the past, points were deducted for infringements from the Pugilists in each round but now the deductions are from the overall points at the end of the fight while only the Ring Doctor could override the Referees’ decision to stop a fight.
Beckles, who been a Referee for 21 years, also spoke about stoppage during a bout, Interference with the flow of the fight and counting too early in his informative interactive season as he addressed questions from the participants and shared his experiences when he visited different places for Boxing including those in India where was he was a Referee in the Female World Championships.
Beckles, whose ambition is to be Referee and Judges’ Supervisor, informed that while Judges could wear ‘glasses’, Referees are not allowed to do so although they could wear contact lens.
Beckles shadow boxes with a participant to strengthen a point from the projector screen during his workshop yesterday.
Beckles, who was scheduled to attend a technical meeting last even at the Tower Hotel, said that while the turnout for the workshop could have been better he was aware that work commitments were among the reasons for this not happening.
“I was pleased that some new Referees attended. I am satisfied that they learnt a lot and I hope that when I leave that’s not the end of the process for them. I am also satisfied with the standard of Refereeing in Guyana,” Beckles added.
The very experienced Evaluator feels that the standard of the Referees in Guyana is high because Guyana has more boxers who fight more often at this level which is good for the pugilists and also the Referees.
“In the same way that time in the Ring gives the Boxers experience and confidence it does the same for Referees,” said Beckles
Beckles said he hoped that those here could maintain their consistency and work with more computerised scoring instead of using paper.
He informed that the Referee and Judges will not be evaluated on their status but on who performs the best. He assured them that once a name is put into the system the computer will automatically grade their performances which cannot be changed. This he said will take favouritism out of the equation since this is possible if someone is doing that manually. (Sean Devers)
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