Photo: Laura De la Torre
World championship referee Jack Reiss has worked in more than 2000 professional boxing matches and 42 world title bouts including Julio Chavez Jr vs Sebastian Zbik, Danny Green vs Manny Siaca and Mikkel Kessler vs Andre Ward. Reiss talks to Fightnews and tells us about growing up in New York and how he moved the Los Angeles at 23 years of age and becoming a referee in 1998.
Reiss said, “I born Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1956. My dad died when I was eight. My mom worked every day — rain or shine — taking trains to Manhattan for the next 30+ years to support herself and us. Growing up I boxed, played baseball, football and hockey. At 14, I became interested in martial arts.
“At 23, I broke a bone in my right foot in a full-contact kickboxing bout, went to Los Angeles for a two-week rest and stayed, becoming an LAFD firefighter. I made Captain in ’92. During 9-11 I spent 15 days at Ground Zero with the LAFD-CISM team assisting with the rescue and recovery operation after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Reiss continued, “I boxed and played hockey for the LAFD. In 1998 I became a professional boxing referee. Currently I’ve reffed approximately 2000 pro bouts, 42 world-title fights and officiated in Australia, Germany, Chile, Panama, United Kingdom, Singapore, Mexico, Antigua, Hawaii, Washington, Connecticut and California. I had the opportunity to be a referee on THE CONTENDER, the TV reality show, for four years.”
Jack recently assisted Robert Byrd at the IBF convention in Las Vegas in conducting the referee’s seminar.
“I conduct seminars for professional boxing referees, judges and MMA officials. One of which is titled ‘The Theory of Stopping Fights – A Scientific Approach,’ based on 31 years experience assessing trauma victims as a firefighter/emergency medical technician and pro referee,” Reiss concluded.
He will be working as the third man in the ring on July 29 in Sydney, NSW, Australia when Billy Dib will be in action against Jorge Lacervia for the vacant IBF featherweight title.
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