Most will agree that the job of a sports referee is both difficult and undesirable. It’s a role were abuse and criticism is as regular and acceptable as praise is absent. A good referee is the very definition of an unsung hero and a bad referee, to some, is the personification of the devil. And this is even before you add boxing to the equation – a sport which requires the referee to not only enforce its rules but to protect a fighter from injury. This, along with so many other factors is what makes the achievements of Billy Phillips so impressive.

In August 2008 Billy became the first British official to referee an Olympic game in twenty years. On top of this he has officiated an outstanding five other international tournaments. We caught up with Billy on the phone so he could tell us a bit more about his life as an international referee.

LABA: Did you box?
BP: Yes, both senior and junior, most junior though. I boxed for my two schools, back at a time when you could box for your school. I then went on to box for Arbour Youth and won a few junior championships.

Why did you become a Referee?
Becoming a referee wasn’t so much a conscious decision, more of a natural progression. I was at Arbour at the same time as Richie Davies; he was, and still is a top referee (Davies now referees pro boxing), and I was very lucky to have him about. He spent a lot of time showing me the ropes, teaching me so much of what he had learnt over the years.

When I packed in boxing when in my 20s and did various jobs at Arbour youth, including judging but because I had a young family and was working 7 days a week I couldn’t commit to coaching, Being a ref allowed me choose my days, to an extent, and meant I wasn’t spending a full day at shows.

How were the Olympics?
To be honest – fairly disappointing. There was just far too much politics and as a result referees and judges weren’t allowed to do their jobs properly. Based on Beijing I don’t think I will be refereeing at London 2012. Its left me with a very sour after taste.

Don’t get me wrong, the people were lovely and it was a very well run Olympics, but the boxing was run terribly. Judges were too scared to press the button (score shots) because they were printing out computer read outs, showing how all the judges were scoring. If you scored a shot they deemed to be wrong you would receive a warning. A certain amount of warnings would then mean you wouldn’t be allowed to judge any more bouts. That’s why no body shots were scoring, it just wasn’t worth it for a lot of judges, they wanted to be there at the semis and finals. I personally was one of the highest scorers when I judged and consequently received a lot of warnings. I know it wasn’t just me who became disillusioned with how the tournament was run. A lot of referees and judges have packed the sport in after these Olympics. Very sad when you consider that a lot of them still had another twenty or so years left in them.

I’ve been at far better tournaments in my career. The Chicago World Championships (2007) and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur are two that really stand out

What do you think of Britain’s performance at the Olympics?
All the British team performed very well. James Degale was exceptional. Although I have to say James should have won his final in the second round… the Cuban should have been disqualified. I think it was fair to say that it was one of the worst referee performances in the history of the Olympics. It would have been fair enough if he hadn’t seen the Cuban bite James, but he clearly did because he took points off him. You don’t take points of a boxer for biting, you disqualify them. I don’t want to say too much on the matter but I will say this – to referee an Olympic final you no longer have to be one of the best referees in the tournament.

Best part of being a referee?
I think being in the action. Obviously the boxers are the stars of the show, the centre of attention, but as a ref you’re right in there with them, you have the best seat in the house. The respect you get from the boxers, coaches and all those in the sport is also great. It’s not like being a football referee where everybody hates you.
What might suprise a few people is that I still enjoy refereeing club shows more then international bouts. I love grass roots, it's were we're going to get our next champions from.

Worst part of being a referee?
Its go to be the length of time your away from home, although I guess that’s only really applicable to international referees. In the last 14 months I’ve been away for 4 of them. Another negative aspect is the lack, or rather absence of funding. Britain’s boxers get good funding, as do the coaches and managers, but I get next to nothing. If it wasn’t for my sponsors, Essex Ford, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do. I mean I have a mortgage to pay like everyone else.
At the moment there is a problem with the lack of young refs coming through at grass levels, and with the lack of funding is it surprising? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good thing to do, but look at the sacrifices we make. Its certainly not a glamorous job and sometimes people even threaten us with violence. Oh and you have to have a very understanding wife.

Best bout you’ve refereed?
There are two that stand out above the rest. One was twenty years ago at York hall between Reptons Gary Cook and Garry Ashdown of Poplar ABC (now closed). That bout had everything – skill, heart, power, both were down twice in the fight. Ashdown won that one on majority.
The other bout that stood out against the thousands of others was between Courtney Fry, also of Repton and David Haye (the Lodge). I’ve never in my entire life seen such a devastating performance. It was the London ABA finals and going into the bout Fry was the Light Heavy Commonwealth and ABA champion. But Haye was incredible and he ended up stopping Fry in the third round. Funnily enough in the next round of the Championships Haye got properly knocked out in the first round.

Best boxer you’ve refereed?
I have to say Gary Barker was one of the most skilled boxers I’ve ever seen. And he was so sadly taken away from us at the age of 19. That was the saddest moment in my time in boxing. He was the loveliest kid and all his family are so nice as well. He would have been a real champion.

What do you think of the state of Amateur Boxing?
I don’t thin it’s ever been better and it’s in very good hands. We’ve now got boxing back in schools, good funding, much more public interest, and new clubs appearing all over the country. I think the sport has a great future although the Referee and Judging Commission have a big job on their hands in terms of recruitment. Hopefully that will be sorted out soon.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
I would like to thanks a few people - Richie Davies for showing me the ropes and teaching me so much. John Gutteridge for being my mentor (he was the greatest ref never to go to the Olympics). Clive Howe, both Bill Cox senior and junior, my wife who makes what I do possible and cleans my smelly and bloody ref whites. Also to Keith Walters for his friendship and support and Paul King who has done so much for this sport, I just wished more people realised that.

Interview by Stefan Johnson