Boxing: History, Pressure and Superstition – Amy Pu’s Life as a Referee

Pu grew up in Taiwan and moved to London in 2004 to study before returning permanently in 2009.

After doing some pad work during personal training, he thought about finding a boxing club for fitness.

Her fitness hobby turned into amateur competitions, then judging, before stepping out of her comfort zone to become a qualified referee in 2018.

“My family is like a traditional Taiwanese family – quite protective and a lot of rules – so I think growing up traditionally, I was quite risk-averse,” he said.

Poo’s parents fully supported his decision to transition to refereeing, despite their concerns about his safety and being a target of racism.

“Of course, they were proud when they heard I was the first and only one in the UK,” Poo said. “But mom being mom, she asked if it was going to be dangerous.

“I said: ‘They’re not punching me, they’re punching each other!’

“Of course, they’re concerned about racism, they’re concerned about a woman in a really male-dominated space.

“I had to reassure them that it was okay and that I could defend myself. When I was training, I said you have to be thick-skinned and I am.”

Pu took on more in-ring duties a month after his professional debut – refereeing alongside Robert Lloyd-Taylor Jr’s win over Dennis Hnideck before becoming fully eligible in 2025.

“On the professional side, I have to say the response has been mostly positive,” Pu said.

“During the pro days, there were some weird comments and stuff. I think that’s why I had hesitation before turning pro.

“I just thought: ‘Well, it’s a very different population, professional boxing fans’, and I just thought: ‘Is it going to be worse than the amateurs and the people I work with?’

Boxing referees are regularly criticized and being a woman increases the stakes, but Poo says her experience so far has been positive.

“People have just been so supportive, knock on wood, there’s never really been any criticism of me because of my gender or because of my ethnicity,” Pu said.

“I’m really grateful and I hope it continues, people see me as a referee. They can stick me as a referee, not as a female Asian referee.”