Dublin to host legendary referee Mickey Vann’s last fight

The National Stadium will have the honour of saying a final farewell to legendary referee Mickey Vann.

The Leeds ref is a veteran of 974 fights has finally decided to throw in the towel on a 40-year career and will adjudicate his last ever bout at the home of Irish boxing on November 5th.

Debut promoters Red Corner today revealed that their first ever show will be Mickey Vann’s last ever night in the squared circle.

Vann will bring to an end a staggering career by refereeing both Luke Keeler and Steve Collins Jr’s BUI Celtic Warrior title fights on the ‘Inception’ show.

The former featherweight fighter with a record of 3(1)-9(5)-0 first adopted the man in the middle role in 1976 when he oversaw an Eddie Smith points win over Joe Jackson at the Anglo American Sports Club in Manchester.

The 73 year old would became Britain’s best known ref and was respected around the World. The son of renowned knife thrower Hal Denver became one of the sport’s most recognised faces, officiating 157 title contests.

Vann’s first title fight came on March 20th 1983 BBBofC Central Area featherweight title at Tiffney’s night club between Steve Pollard and Steve Farnsworth. 

Vann progressed to bigger title fights including The Battle of Britain between Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis. He is also famed for throwing out a towel thrown in by Graham Earls corner seconds before Earl dropped Micheal Katsidis.

The ballroom dancer wasn’t allowed officiate in any more BBBofC once he turned 65, but was still used around the globe on international cards.

Vann, who has also judged 181 bouts, had been seen in Ireland recently, most notably in the brilliant Jamie Conlan Junior Granadas bout in the National Stadium in July of 2015.

The same venue will now play host to the refs last ever clashes and the famed boxing venue and those that populate it on November 5th will get the chance to give Vann the send off he deserves.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to have Mickey Vann over to ref his last two fights in Ireland and on our show. Hopefully Luke and Steve Collins Jr put on a show and give him the send of he deserves,” Andrew Jennings of Red Corner told Irish-Boxing.com.