Officiating -- Boxing -- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) -- Kickboxing/Muay Thai

June 22, 2019 was the last night worked as an official for unarmed combat. It has been an honor to be a small part of the “….man (woman) who is actually in the arena….”

Thank you to all the fighters and great people I have worked with. I am especially grateful to the fighters that took the time to find and thank me for being fair and impartial, whether they won or lost.

Since 1987 I have been officiating unarmed combat sports: karate, kick boxing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. It was a way to give back to the community that I love. My sole purpose has always been for the fighters. In 2000 my ability to compete ended which added motivation to be a very small part of the “…dust and sweat and blood….” Since then I have worked 4000 fights giving every fighter, novice to world champion, red or blue corner, the best I had. I believe my experience and knowledge ensured safe and fair contests, allowing fighters to utilize their skills and abilities to fight their fight.

I planned to referee another 5 or 10 years and judge for many more, but when State Commissioner Adam Burkhalter announced he was resigning in August of 2018, I considered retirement. By January 2019, I realized I no longer had the patience for the politics or dealing with those who do not understand fighting, officiating, or both.

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."   Theodore Roosevelt