Punching the Referee

Taking umbrage to the referee’s decision to dock one point, Pepe Martin unleashed a 3-punch combination which sent the official sprawling to the canvas and earned Pepe Martin a stint behind bars. It’s not always easy being a purveyor of unpopular decisions, but the repercussions for attacking a referee can often lead to a lifetime ban from the sport.

So, have you ever witnessed a boxer overstepping the line and taking it out on the referee?

What happened and how was the fighter reprimanded?

Don't have an exact example but the first thing that come to mind is Tyson Vs Lou Saverese. Where the referee gets in the middle of them to stop the fight and Tyson keeps swinging. Can't imagine too many people punch the referee.

Carmen Basilio only just managed to stop himself laying out the referee when his second fight with Gene Fullmer was stopped (somewhat prematurely some would say), settling insted for a couple of shoves and a lot of arm waving.

basilio vs fullmer ii - the ending:

I can understand Basilio's anger!

There was this boxer who knocked out 2-3 referees by accident in the same fight - youtube it. Theres also Zab Judah who assaulted the ref - but I don't think he punched him. A referee dodged a vicious right hook from Holyfield after it missed Lennox although I only saw it from straight on so I dont know how close he came.

A referee once chokeslammed a boxer who pushed him in the face after he broke up a clinch rather roughly. Another referee took offence and beat seven shades of Poopie out of a junior boxer because he pushed him.

I remember Bobby Frankham attacked Richie Davies for stopping his fight in the first round,got a lifetime ban from the BBBC.