Mickey Vann - Retired and Still A Championship Referee

Retired and Still A Championship Referee

Mickey was force retired from by the British Boxing Board of Control regulation stating referees over 65 are no longer allowed to referee. However, continues to referee international contests and is still regularly used as a judge by major world boxing bodies. On July 14, 2012, at Upton Park in London, Vann was still active refereeing in the professional ring in Great Britain despite the ban, serving as man in the middle for Liam Walsh versus Domenico Urbano vacant WBO European Lightweight title 12 round contest on the undercard of David Haye versus Derek Chisora. The card was sanctioned by Luxembourg Boxing Federation to the defiance of British Boxing Board of Control. At the start of the sixth round, Vann, still a strong referee, took a point from Urbano for illegal headbutting in the previous round, with Urbano bleeding from a facial cut. The cut was caused by a proper blow. Vann stopped the bout at 2:10 in the eighth round with Walsh giving Urbano a one-sided beating on his feet.