NARBERTH boxing referee John Phillips, who has graced the world amateur scene for 30 years, will soon be embarking on the trip of a lifetime.
John's passion for boxing dates back almost 50 years and perhaps some will remember that in 1964 he even appeareed on the Hughie Green Show answering boxing questions.
This June, however, he will be travelling to New York and then on to Syracuse where he will be attending the Hall of Fame ceremonies, where great boxers like Ali, Joe Louis, Hagler, Marciano, Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns and hundreds of others have been inducted into this shrine.
This year's ceremony takes place from June 10-13 and John will be there alongside hundreds of other boxing enthusiasts and many of the sport's all-time greats.
It is a trip he has been promising himself for many, many years and he is looking forward to it with keen anticipation.
Nevertheless, he tells us that he would give it all up for the chance to referee at the forthcoming Olympics!
That's his great aim, but meanwhile it has been a busy season for John, for as well as refereeing all over the world, he is also vice-chairman of the referees in Wales. That means there are always countless meetings to attend, in what continues to be a hectic schedule for the Narberth official.