Who's the best A star ref in the UK?

[IronLiver]

Our best ref without doubt is John Keane. Howard Foster a close second. Marcus McDonnell is a decent ref too.

Terry O'Connor and Ian John Lewis are huge liabilities in my opinion.

[Duffus91]

Howard Foster for me.

[IronLiver]

Yeah Howard's a great ref. but that doran/maxwell stoppage was a howler. Can anyone remember John Keane make a fight changing mistake?

[xrgcx]

Foster for me. Are there a lot of Referees in the Uk. When am back home there's only 2 in Vic Louclin and Kenny Pringle! How many registered refs are there?

[Duffus91]

Yeah Howard's a great ref. but that doran/maxwell stoppage was a howler. Can anyone remember John Keane make a fight changing mistake?

Audley Harrison Vs Tomasz Bonin.

Bonin I think if I remember correctly was ahead on the scorecards.

[JLP]

Everybody makes mistakes in their jobs from time to time, it's normal. We're all fallible. I wouldn't like to put my neck on the line and say who I think is the best referee in the country. All the A Star referees are highly competent but all can suffer from the occasional lack of form for a variety of reasons.

[Duffus91]

Everybody makes mistakes in their jobs from time to time, it's normal. We're all fallible. I wouldn't like to put my neck on the line and say who I think is the best referee in the country. All the A Star referees are highly competent but all can suffer from the occasional lack of form for a variety of reasons.

Wise words once more JLP

[Old bones Ian]

I don't know who is and who isn't A star , but i think Steve Gray is a very good ref. Doesn't get involved to much, and seems to have the respect of the boxers in there.

[gobbles]

Richie Davies is the best ref in Britain

[IronLiver]

Richie Davies is the best ref in Britain

Great shout. Did forget about old richie. Top ref. Top man.

I still think Keane is the best ref in the uk. He's highly regarded as a judge in America too. WBC use him a lot.

[stujones]

Yeah, good post JLP - although some a making more mistakes more frequently and need to be looked into.

John Keane is a ref who often goes too much on the side of caution for my liking.

No mention of Marcus McDonnell? He seems to be a very consistent ref. Never noticing him making a howler or doing something to grab the limelight (remember Richie Davies for the Clev vs Bellew fight - Davies is among the best ref's, but didn't like his performance there).

[Boxingcutsman]

John Keane by far is the best IMO, then I'd say Marcus Mcdonell & Steve Gray ain't too bad to be fair.

The worst 3 without a shadow of a doubt are No.1 Mark Green, No.2 Ian Jon-Lewis, both by a very long way, then No.3 is jointly Jeff Heinz, Ken Curtis & Terry O'connor (in fairness though big Terry can be hit & miss) all the rest are somewhere in the middle. Saying that, boxing is a sport that can have people viewing the same fight but with varied opinions of how they thought the fight went, it's open to interpretation, the refs have a tough job and are only human so can mess up occasionally, but the refs I've named seem to make huge mistake after huge mistake and that is not acceptable

[robster]

Victor Loughlin hasn't had a mention yet, except in xrgcx's post.

I'm not surprised because, like football referees, if the ref has a good game nobody really notices him and that's how it should be. Can't remember any fights in recent time where Loughlin has been involved in any controversy. Definitely one of the top refs in my book.

[Boxingcutsman]

Victor Loughlin hasn't had a mention yet, except in xrgcx's post.

I'm not surprised because, like football referees, if the ref has a good game nobody really notices him and that's how it should be. Can't remember any fights in recent time where Loughlin has been involved in any controversy. Definitely one of the top refs in my book.

Yh he's up there definitely with Steve Gray in 3rd, very rarely has a bad night, honest guy IMO

[IronLiver]

I think we have a good standard of refs. John Keane is best at knowing when a man has had enough. His timing is very impressive.

[Boxingcutsman]

I think we have a good standard of refs. John Keane is best at knowing when a man has had enough. His timing is very impressive.

Yh agree with you on that. He has ref'd a few fights I've been involved in and the one time my lad suffered a appalling cut right along the eyebrow, wide has hell it was, it happend in the 3rd round of a title fight, he never panicked let me work on it for couple rds, by the 5th round i had managed to stop the blood flow completely, it was a brutal war in fairness, very close, both fighters were going for it Gatti Vs Ward style my lad suffered a 2nd cut albeit alot smaller and a bust ear drum but thanks to John Keane's Cool head my lad ended up winning it in the 10th round. Never seen him make a rash or harsh decision, great judge too.

[hurlock]

Foster no.1 by far!! Might get a lot of stick but are best.

Davies no.2 no rivals either

McDonnell looks the part but is completely spineless & indecisive

[jessi]

Richie Davis for me !
I can't really remember a stoppage from him that I disagreed with.

And his scoring is pretty good too !

[The Insider]

Foster no.1 by far!! Might get a lot of stick but are best.

Davies no.2 no rivals either

McDonnell looks the part but is completely spineless & indecisive

with the addition of Keane in the top 3.

[Finn]

Richie Davies is the best ref in Britain

Without
a doubt

[jonny]

Phil Edwards is a good referee

[Adamj1987]

foster is the best A* and i think geoff hinds is a good ref further down the gradings

[hurlock]

Davies is the most expierianced,but has gone backwards IMO.

Larry o'connel was are best with Roy Francis.
Forgot the other guy who used to do coopers fights his name has eluded me, but he was the most popular & celebrated ref & I have seen documentrys on him in the past.

[jonny]

you mean Harry Gibbs

[Old bones Ian]

Sid Nathan was a great ref as well, he didn't stand for any mucking about.