Miller familiar with air travel

By GREG GULAS

Vindicator Correspondent

BOARDMAN — A successful year for a boxing judge is when they are assigned three, possibly four title fights.

Tom Miller, a Mineral Ridge native and one of the most respected international fight judges, recently worked his 12th title fight this year. In November alone, he added two more title bouts to his resume.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Miller, who is approaching his 4,000th fight as a judge, noted that the travel can take a toll on a person.

Having already logged 40,000-plus air miles for a fourth consecutive year, it’s the 266,000 Frequent Flyer miles that sometimes has him tickled.

“I started as a judge in 1993 and three years later was lucky enough to be chosen for my first world title fight,” he said. “I usually travel USAirways so I get to see many of the same airline personnel; both at the gate and in the air when I travel.

“It’s a fun time, especially when you know that you are playing such a major role in the outcome of the fight,” Miller said. “In November alone, I have been gone for 17 of 23 days to date so the down side is the fact that you are living out of a suitcase, in a hotel while spending entirely too much time at an airport.

“The time spent in the arena is the fun part of the job,” Miller said.

Miller has judged more than 3,600 amateur fights and 320 professional bouts. As he approaches his milestone fight as a judge, Miller has worked 69 title bouts (51 world title fights and 18 regional title bouts).

His eight international fights this year include three WBO, three WBA, one WBC and one IBO assignment. This month, he judged the WBA Heavyweight bout between David Haye of England and 7-foot-2 Nickolay Valuev of Russia in Nuremberg, Germany. He also judgedthe IBO Welterweight fight between Lovemore N’Dou of Australia and England’s Matthew Hatton in Stoke, England.

Haye won a unanimous decision while N’Dou’s bout was a split draw, causing Miller to reflect on the importance of always being at the top of his game in each and every round.

“You usually get your assignment 10-14 days before the fight so there really isn’t much time to prepare,” Miller said. “I don’t read anything on either fighter once I get my assignment, however; it is during that period that I must prepare mentally and focus.

“I have a ritual that includes flying into the town by mid-week where the fight is being held,” Miller said. “We will meet on Thursday, have the weigh-in, usually at a high-profile place for the public to attend on Friday and then that night will join both camps, minus the fighters, of course, when the promoters take everyone out.

“On Saturday, after a good rest, I try to watch the undercard when I get to the arena in order to regain my focus and then it is fight time,” he said.

The pay range for judging a championship fight is usually between $1,300 and $4,000; the amount paid to a judge dictated by the size of the purse.

The reverse side of the coin is that it can be costly to become a registered judge.

Miller is sanctioned by six boxing organizations and his dues range from $50 for membership in the NABF to a $400 yearly membership in the WBO.

His out-of-pocket membership expenses were $1,435 per year, all with no guarantee that he would get assigned a title fight.

There are two judges on the circuit — Jerry Roth and Duane Ford of Las Vegas — that Miller considers at the top of their game.

“I had the pleasure of working with both Jerry and Duane on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight last year for the WBC super featherweight title in Las Vegas,” Miller said.

“With both judges on opposite ends of a 115-112 score, noted HBO fight commentator Jim Lampley called me the tie-breaker so I guess it just doesn’t get any better than that,” Miller said.

Curbstone won’t meet next Monday. Applications are being accepted for next year’s Hall of Fame class and may be obtained by calling Ed Fowler at (330) 506-9829.