David Irving - The Man in the Middle

Today we welcome back a guest who has lived two lives in boxing – firstly as an amateur and then a pro fighter, and for the last 34 years as a referee and judge

Last time we spoke with David Irving, we discussed his career as a fighter but today we’ll be hearing about his three and a half decades as an official, with the Boxing Union of Ireland and also the WBC

His first fight as a ref was back 1989, Ray Close beating Seamus Casey at Ulster Hall. New Kids on the Block were top of the pops Don’t Know Much by Linda Rondstat was No2, All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield was No3 but soon this new kid on the block knew quite a lot and was travelling around the world in his chosen profession.

He’s been the man in the middle for Irish fights of the year including Reynolds v Trainor (2013) and Carroll v Geraghty (2014) as well as the fairly controversial Fury v Rogan battle in Belfast back in 2012, when there was actually an attempt by the British board to remove him in advance of the event.

Here he also tells us about receiving abuse and even threats during his time working as a referee, still finding a way to be fitter than some fighters 40 years on from his heyday as a boxer himself, and the fouls most favoured by your average Irish puncher. Spoiler alert: some fighters don't need to be told to hit the other guy 'in the ballix'.

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