Amy Pu becomes first female pro referee in British boxing

Taiwan-born Amy Pu made history in March 2024 when she stepped into the ring at York Hall to referee Marcus Eaton's win over Paul Scaife, becoming the first woman to officiate a professional bout in British boxing. The 2023 British Boxing Board of Control recruit had brought her kit to the venue but was not certain she would work that night until the lead referee confirmed it minutes before the card began, according to BBC Sport.

Pu, who moved to London permanently in 2009, had been climbing the amateur ranks with an eye on Olympic assignments when a BBBofC member approached her about turning professional. Female referees have worked pro shows elsewhere in the world, but none had done so in the UK. "I did watch professional boxing and what really kind of bugged me was that you didn't see a female referee on TV or at shows," she told the BBC.

Full credentials and world title ambitions

A month after her debut, Pu took on dual duties at a London show, scoring Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jr's win over Denis Hnidek while also refereeing another bout. She earned full qualification as both referee and judge in 2025 and has since worked undercards at major venues, including Oleksandr Usyk's win over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. Her ultimate goal is a world title assignment, possibly at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pu said the professional scene has been more welcoming than she expected after dealing with occasional comments during her amateur days. "People should see me as a referee," she said, per the BBC. "They can give me stick as a referee, not as a female Asian referee." She acknowledged feeling extra pressure not to give critics an excuse to attribute mistakes to her gender or ethnicity, and said her traditional Taiwanese parents worried about racism and her safety before coming around to support the milestone.

Pu, who also works as a life coach and podcast host, hopes her presence will show young fans that refereeing is a career path beyond the ropes. She refereed three additional bouts on that March 2024 York Hall card and has continued to pick up assignments on the British circuit since becoming the country's lone female professional referee.

Source: bbc.com