| |
|
Referee KOed in Japan Bout
By Alex P. Vidal PhilBoxing.com Mon, 06 Aug 2007
In the more than 140 fights, many of which world championship, that he has officiated here and abroad, Angeles City-based international referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand admitted it was the first time that he witnessed “live” at ringside a fellow referee being knocked out by one of the competing boxers.
“I was shocked because it was my first time to witness it live,” the veteran McTavish, adjudged by the Ring Magazine as one of the top and most competent referees in the world, told this writer after arriving from Tokyo August 5 where he officiated the OPBF middleweight title duel on August 4.
He recalled having seen some scenes where the third man in the ring was walloped by a boxer and fell on the canvas in a boxing match but they were on films, he said.
“If it happened in the Philippines, the normal reaction of the crowd would be to laugh. But in the case of that Thai referee (Ukrid Sarasas), a Japanese judge went to the ring to rescue a fallen colleague,” McTavish, who is married to a Filipina, narrated.
McTavish said the “knockout” came in the second round after Sarasas went to the “blind side” when protagonists Yosuhiro Kondo and Yoshihiro Kamegai were trading punches.
He saw Kondo’s left hook hitting Sarasas in the left face.
McTavish swore it was unintentional and Kondo was so apologetic. Kondo, himself was pummeled into submission and lost by TKO in the fourth round, McTavish said.
Matchmaker Joe Koizumi, reporting for Fighnews, wrote that Vinny Martin, a Japan-based Ghanan, took over Sarasas’ unfinished job and counted out the referee’s tormentor at 2:59 in the fourth round.
The Kondo-Kamegai tussle was underneath the OPBF middleweight shootout between champion Koji Sato and Indonesian David Koswara refereed by McTavish. Sato retained the title by KO in the second round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj , Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18 , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco , Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories , Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53 , Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|