Judging professional fights is challenging. The crowd is deafening, the corners are shouting, the announcers are audibly doing their thing, and the fans in the arena are allowing their passion to be heard. In the middle of all that, judges need to keep their minds steady, their eyes sharp, and their scorecards impartial.
That kind of focus doesn’t happen by accident. For many judges, it takes discipline, preparation, and even a few rituals. In recent years, I’ve found myself thinking more about what you might call mindfulness – the ability to quiet the noise and stay in the moment when the environment is screaming at you to lose focus.
A spiritual reset
Before every fight, I say a short silent prayer: “Please protect the fighters, please let the right boxer win, and please help me score the bout correctly.”
It’s spiritual, not doctrinal. It isn’t about bringing religion into the ring. It’s about centering myself and remembering why I’m there: to safeguard fighters and give them a fair shake.
I once spoke with Las Vegas judge and referee Robert Hoyle, and he told me he says the same exact prayer. Neither of us claim it guarantees a perfect scorecard. What it does is remind us that the night isn’t about us. It’s about the fighters, their safety, and their work.
