Amy Pu becomes first female pro referee in British boxing

Amy Pu stepped into the ring at York Hall last March and became the first woman to referee a professional boxing match in British history.

The Taiwan-born official had worked the amateur circuit for years when the British Boxing Board of Control approached her about turning professional. Female referees had officiated pro fights across the globe, but never in the UK. "I hadn't thought about turning professional because my goal was to progress to international level in the amateurs," Pu told BBC Sport. "What really kind of bugged me was that you didn't see a female referee on TV or at shows."

Breaking through at York Hall

Pu completed the Board's training course in 2023 and got the call for Marcus Eaton's fight against Paul Scaife the following March. She wasn't sure she'd work that night until the lead referee confirmed it ringside. "The photographers were taking photos of me and I just thought, 'Oh, this is for real'," she said. Once the opening bell rang, her focus narrowed to the boxers. She handled three more bouts that same card.

The reaction from the professional ranks surprised her. Pu had fielded the occasional dismissive comment during her amateur days and worried the pro demographic might be harsher. Instead, she's found broad support. "People have just been so supportive, knock on wood, I haven't really had any criticism directed at me because of my sex or because of my race," she said. "They can give me stick as a referee, not as a female Asian referee."

Pu, who also works as a life coach and podcast host, took charge of a bout on the Usyk-Dubois card at Wembley last year. Her next targets are world title assignments in London or Las Vegas. "Dream big, right?" she said.

Source: bbc.co.uk