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Boxing judge Tom Miller has memorable year
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
Having judged over 200 amateur and 25 professional fights, Tom Miller has enjoyed a most memorable year ringside.
With nearly 4,200 fights (3,800 amateur bouts and almost 400 professional bouts) judged during a stellar 16-year career outside the ropes, he also added nine world and two regional title assignments to an already impressive resume and has worked 22 title matches.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Miller, 50, shared fight stories, spoke candidly about Kelly Pavlik and showed no effects of tiring after logging another 40,000 air miles.
“I really consider myself very fortunate and continue to treat every assignment as if it were my very first,” he said..
“[The travel] does take its toll, but when you love what you do and if travel is the only down side to an assignment then overall it’s been a fantastic year,” he said.
Miller served as a judge this year for the WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight championship between the Ukraine’s Vladimir Klitschko and Eddie Chambers of the United States.
He called it one of his best assignments.
“The best part of my job is that you get to see many of the top athletes in the sport and Klitschko truly is one of the very best in the high-profile heavyweight division,” he said.
“I’ve been with many interesting people in and around the boxing game, from Roberto Duran and Oscar De La Hoya to promoters Don King, Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer.”
His travels this year have taken him to Japan, Germany, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Columbia, Nicaragua, and twice to both Puerto Rico and Panama.
The topic of conversation he most encountered was the status of Kelly Pavlik.
“In talking with those close to the situation it is my understanding that Kelly’s first two weeks in rehab were very tough, but they would be very tough for anybody in that situation,” he said.
“The last two weeks or so have been much better and I’ve been told that he has been doing quite well. You need a rehab program when you are released and his rehab program is boxing,” Miller said.
Miller said he usually gets his assignment 10-to-14 days before the fight so there really isn’t much time to prepare.
“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,” he said.
Luncheons resume Jan. 3 for Joe Ethan, YSU men’s basketball TV analyst.