This quote by Joyce Carol Oates is a reminder of the value of the third guy in the ring when it pertains to boxing. The 3rd man in the ring is the referee, who is responsible for making sure that the guidelines of the sport are followed and that the fighters are safe. Without the referee, boxing would not be possible. The referee is the one who makes sure that the boxers are not taking unfair benefit of each other, that the rounds are timed correctly, and that the fight is stopped when required. The referee is likewise responsible for ensuring that the fighters are not participating in any unlawful activities, such as hitting below the belt or using unlawful methods. The referee is the one who eventually decides the outcome of the fight, and without them, boxing would not be possible.
"Aside from a handful of guys boxing is missing the good trainers, that's why our sport is so in the air now because we don't have people who have the capability to not only train fighters but also train and create decent respectable citizens of the world"
"All of the sports have a safety net, but boxing is the only sport that has none. So when the fighter is through, he is through. While he was fighting his management was very excited for him, but now that he is done, that management team is moving on"
