By William Trillo
Photos: Gavin Bond – Netflix & William Trillo
A little over a week ago I was working a local boxing show just outside of Los Angeles California. As per usual, I made it a point to get there for the opening bout because you just never know if the next future Super Star is making his professional debut. The second fight of the night was a four rounder. Jorge Ruiz (2-0, 2 KOs) knocked Prince Martin (1-3, 1 KO) via body punch in round two. Refereeing the bout was California Ref Tom Taylor. About halfway through the first round it occurred to me, the last time I saw Taylor was in Las Vegas just a few weeks prior. He was the third man in the ring for the most anticipated fight of 2025, that being the undisputed Super Middleweight championship between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. When the bell rang for the first round to begin, there were well over 70,000 fans in the arena. The night I saw Taylor in Los Angeles, there may have been 250 fans in attendance…maybe.
After the bout in Los Angeles, I requested an interview with Taylor to discuss the afore mentioned fights. He was quick and gracious to oblige.
Check out what Tom had to say:
Pound4Pound: If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you how it feels to go from a house full of fans, some 70,000, that are anticipating the Fight of the Year to less than a month later, refereeing the second fight of the night, a four rounder, in front of maybe 250 fans at the time the bell rang.
Tom Taylor: Honestly, once the bell rings, whether its 70,000 screaming fans, or 250, my focus is on red corner, blue corner and calling the fight fairly. I love the big shows and small shows just the same. That 4-rounder debut is nothing different from the 12 round main event world title fight. It’s just important to both fighters and I treat them equally. I love what I do and the size, or lack there, of the event doesn’t matter. As long as I am refereeing, I am in my element.
P4P: To follow up, can you speak to the mindset and focus it takes to give your 100% best for both a four round prelim fight and/or a 12-round world title fight.
TT: Great question. As I addressed, the 4-round fight may as well be a 12-round title fight and treated as such. The 4-round fight is the most important fight to those fighters, no different from the 12-round title fight. My mindset doesn’t change from either. My focus is exactly the same for both as I believe every fighter deserves 100% from us regardless of the event size, number of rounds or any other contributing factor. Every fighter works their ass off in order to be able to step through those ropes, and we as officials owe them our very best every time.
Taylor has become one of the more visible and high-profile refs in boxing at the present time. From Saudi Arabia to Las Vegas to Los Angeles, when Taylor is in the ring, the fighters and the fans can rest assured the battle is in good hands.
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