IBA 2-star status for England Boxing R&J Mann
July 8, 2022 | by Matt Halfpenny
England Boxing official Stuart Stuart Mann said he is ‘thrilled’ to have qualified as an IBA 2-star referee and judge.
He achieved the upgrade after a thorough assessment at the EUBC European Under-22 Championships 2022 in Porec, Croatia in March.
Mann, who is started out as a boxer with Tyldesley Centurions before joining the Army and starting on his journey as an official says becoming IBA 2-star-recognised is an ‘important step’ on his bid to one day referee at Olympics and Commonwealth Games level.
“It’s a massive achievement and one that I need to take if I am to referee and judge at major events,” he said. “If you want to do that, then you obviously have to do this first; it’s crucial.
“I’m now the youngest 2-star official in the UK by some distance, so it gives me the hope that I have enough years ahead of me to make it to that very top level.
“But I’m well aware that I can’t rest on my laurels. It’s vital that you perform consistently well at every tournament you attend and demonstrate to England Boxing, GB Boxing and IBA that you are worthy of consideration for the 3-star course.”
Mann has been quick to thank the help he has received from other English officials in reaching the level he has now.
He added: “I am so lucky that I have been able to draw on the knowledge and experience of our current 3-star officials that have been able to mentor me.
“We are lucky as a country to have some of the very best officials in the world.”
After a first day introduction to the course that included an update on rule changes, the second day saw Mann complete a written exam comprising of 75 questions.
As the European Under-22s got underway, he was then assessed on 10 bouts as a referee and 10 as a judge.
Congratulating Mann on his achievement, Chairman of the England Boxing Technical, Rules and Officials sub-committee, Mick Norford, said: “This puts Stuart on the next rung of the ladder and will enable him to officiate at international European competitions at Junior level, as well as other big competitions such as the Tammer and Bocskai Tournaments.
“There are only a handful of officials in the country who have reached this level, so I would like to congratulate him and with him all the best in his bid to reach IBA 3-star status, which I know he is hoping to do so in the future.”
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