Wales' senior boxing referee John Phillips, of Narberth, has been invited to referee at the European Championships in Serbia. If John decides to take up this very prestigious offer to officiate at what is the third greatest tournament after the Olympic Games and World Championships, it will be his fifth European event. He has already refereed at two in Hungary, one in Edinburgh and another in Finland. The Welsh party flies out on July 6 and returns on July 15. John recently passed his AIBA referee's exam - you have to resit these every four years, and John has been resitting since 1985. He's been travelling the world now for almost 30 years as a referee, but feels it's time for youngsters to have a chance. "It has been a wonderful life visiting all these countries," John said, "but it has to come to an end some time." At present he's the official in charge of the Western Division, which involves over 25 clubs. This keeps him very busy at club shows and internationals. He's also on the referees and judges executive committee and a member of the grading panel. John is still looking out for would-be referees and judges in his Western Division, so if you see him at ringside, go up to him, introduce yourself and he'll tell you all about how to become an official of the Welsh ABA.
