Which officials work each bout, and who appoints and pays them?
Rule- South Africa
- Boxing South Africa
- Professional boxing
- 18 and over
- Boxing Regulations 2004 (amended)
- Referees and judges
- 2026
- Ring officials
Under regulations 25, 26 and 33 of the Boxing Regulations:
- Every fight has a referee, three judges, a timekeeper, an announcer, a ringmaster and a supervisory official, all appointed by Boxing SA. For international or world title bouts they may be appointed jointly with the international body.
- No official may have any direct or indirect financial interest in the bout.
- Boxing SA decides how many ring officials attend and sets their pay, which the promoter pays in full through Boxing SA.
- The referee is the chief official in the ring and supervises the bout.
- The supervisory official has overall control of the tournament and makes final decisions on everything except bout outcomes (which belong to the referee and judges). Before the tournament they hold security and medical meetings and a rules meeting with participants and officials, grade each official's performance, appoint substitutes if an official can't continue, and send Boxing SA a report within three days.
- Seating: judges sit on three sides of the ring, the timekeeper on the fourth. Judges' seats must give a clear view and be at least one metre from other people.
Added 22 Oct 2026