Benjamin Thomas Watt

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For other uses, see Benjamin Watt (disambiguation).

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Benjamin Thomas Watt
Born (1992-06-13) June 13, 1992 (age 31)
Greenhithe, New Zealand
Residence Sunnynook, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealander
Ethnicity New Zealand European
Citizenship New Zealand
Occupation Boxing Judge, Audio Documentary Maker, Matchmaker, Boxrec Editor
Years active 2015–present
Organization New Zealand Professional Boxing Association,[1] World Boxing Federation,[2] Boxrec.com,[3] Pridenz.com
Known for First Openly Gay Boxing Judge
Home town North Shore City, New Zealand
Spouse(s) Skyler Parker Watt (Married 2015)
Website boxrec.com/person/728646

Benjamin Thomas Watt (born June 13, 1992, Greenhithe, New Zealand) is the world's first openly gay professional boxing judge.[4]

Watt started his career in boxing as an editor of Boxrec.com for New Zealand.[5] In April 2015, the Australian Boxrec editors forward Watt onto the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association after he expressed interests of becoming a referee and a judge. Watt spent four months training as a shadow judge and doing corporate boxing fights. In August 2015, Watt judged his first two professional fights of his career. It was on a small boxing promotion called Weekend Warriors II, promoted by Craig Thomson.[1] Watt was shortly recognized after as the worlds first openly gay professional boxing judge.[6][7]

Q12 The Tour

In 2012 Watt traveled the North Island of New Zealand for project called Q12 the tour where he did audio interviews with over 70 LGBT people. The aim of the project was to archive the information for future research on what it is like to live as a LGBT Person in 2012.[8][9][10][11][12] Watt got first noticed on YouTube with his documentary called Radio Documantary on NZ Gay Youth Abuse.[13] Pridenz.com approach him to do only twenty interviews, however due to the popularity of the concept they was decided to turn the project into a tour. The tour originally was to travel to fourteen cities and towns in ten regions. However Gisbourne, Tauranga and Taupo were cancelled due to lack of support in the local regions. Despite the cancelled dates, the tour itself concluded successfully.

Matchmaking

In March 2016, Royal Rampage announced on Facebook and Boxrec that Watt is one of there boxing matchmakers.[14]

Watt was also a matchmaker for the Asher Derbyshire vs Paane Haraki fight for the vacant NZPBA Cruiserweight title.[15] Originally the fight was scheduled for Derbyshire to fight Thomas Heads. Unfortunately Heads received a severe concussion, resulting in being pulled out only 7 days before the fight. Watt offered his services to find a replacement fight on six days notice, in which he did it in two.

Health issues

Watt is semi blind in the right eye by birth. Even though he is fully capable to judge, his optometrist will not clear his to drive a car.

At the age of 15, Watt was diagnosed with Scheuermann's disease. Watt stated for years he has been through painful physiotherapy however to this day he still has back problems.

In October 2015, Watt was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 23.[16] In February 2016, Watt announced that after going through aggressive treatment, he is officially in remission.

Personal life

Watt went to Westlake Boys High School However he left school at the age of 17 to pursue a career in Hospitality. Shortly after leaving school Watt came out as gay and received much support from family and friends.[17] Watt is the son of the singer-songwriter, Dr Allan Charles Watt.

LGBT advocacy

With his background in being with Pridenz.com with the Q12 Tour, Being a youth Worker at Aotearoa Rainbow Youth, Volunteering at the New Zealand Aids Foundation and being the World's first openly gay boxing judge, Watt is a strong advocate for LGBT Rights.

Watt has attended and spoken at multiple conferences in the Australasia talking about LGBT rights including 2011 Aucklands Kazam, 2012 Wellingtons Hui Putahi and 2016 Sydney Team Sydney Sports.[18]

Watt stated at the 2016 conference in Sydney that he believes in New Zealand Gay rights has completed its full equality in law changing. However he believes their is so much that can be done for transgender rights in New Zealand, including getting funding for the transgender community for public health in ways of surgery.

Professional boxing judge record

12 Bouts'[4]
Boxers Type Rd., Time Date Location Scorecard Title
United States Nydia Feliciano vs New Zealand Rebecca Jennings UD 8 2016-04-16 New Zealand The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand As Title Belt Supervisor for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) International female featherweight title
SamoaAustralia Herman Ene Purcell vs New Zealand Thomas Heads MD 5 2016-04-16 New Zealand The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand 47 - 47
United States Mia St. John vs New Zealand Lisa Lewis TKO 4 (4), 1:37 2016-04-16 New Zealand The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand 30 - 26
New Zealand Adrian Taihia vs New Zealand Craig Turner SD 4 2016-04-02 New Zealand ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 40 - 36
New Zealand Anthony Taylor vs New Zealand Sone Vannathy UD 8 2016-04-02 New Zealand ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 78 - 73
TongaNew Zealand Panuve Helu vs New ZealandAustralia Jonathan Taylor KO 1 (4), 1:50 2016-04-02 New Zealand ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand Shay Brock vs New Zealand Adam Manisy TKO 2 (4), 2:48 2016-04-02 New Zealand ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand 10 - 9
New Zealand Gunnar Jackson vs New Zealand Matthew Tuakolo KO 1 (6), 2:48 2016-04-02 New Zealand ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand Shay Brock vs SamoaNew Zealand Moses Ioelu RTD 2 (4), 3:00 2015-12-12 New Zealand North Shore Cosmopolitan Club, North Shore, Auckland 19 - 18
New Zealand Ricky Murphy vs New Zealand Ben Sisam TKO 9 (10), 2:59 2015-11-21 New Zealand North Shore Events Centre, North Shore, Auckland 80 – 72 New Zealand Professional Boxing Association (NZPBA) Light Middleweight Title
New Zealand Tonga Panuve Helu vs New Zealand Mose Auimatagai MD 4 (4), 3:00 2015-08-14 New Zealand North Shore Cosmopolitan Club, North Shore, Auckland 38 – 38
New Zealand Shay Brock vs Iraq Sivan Hermez TKO 1 (4), 2:22 2015-08-14 New Zealand North Shore Cosmopolitan Club, North Shore, Auckland

References

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