Luis Pabon of San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been reffing fights since August 6, 1993, when Julian Jackson stopped Carlton Haywood by first-round TKO at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He most recently reffed Felix Sturm-Fedor Chudinov, Sturm scoring the WBA Super World super middleweight title by majority decision at the Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, on February 20 this year. Pabon, who’ll turn 50 this April 4, has so far reffed 361 fights, an average of 15 or 16 a year.

Affectionately known for his “Nobody throw, nobody throw” during clinches, one of Pabon’s many notable fights was that between Gennady Golovkin and Martin Murray, Golovkin successfully defending his WBA Super World middleweight title by stopping Murray via 11th-round TKO at Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco, last February 21.

“Golovkin was dominant throughout,” says Pabon. “Though Murray certainly put up a fight, it reached the point in the 11th that I had to stop it.”

Keeping out of the way, but having quick reflexes and a sharp eye are key to being a good ref, Pabon says, Golovkin-Murray being a case in point. “When you see that one of the fighters is manifestly superior, winning assault after assault, that’s when you begin to look for the right time to intervene,” he says. If that moment comes, the ref has to have the physicality to act quickly and decisively. With that in mind, Pabon engages in vigorous exercise, including participating in triathlons.

As with all good referees, Pabon’s first concern is for the health and well-being of the fighters. If and when to stop a fight can be the most difficult call. Too soon, and scorn will rain down upon his head. That’s on the one hand. On the other, says Pabon, not being too late is a “job well done.”

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This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.