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NEW REFEREE READY! JOHN COYLE
MONDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2008
The Gladiators Zone can reveal that John Coyle is set to replace John Anderson as referee.
“If I can handle the likes of Tyson, Calzaghe, Bruno and Eubank, I can handle Wolf and Oblivion.” - John Coyle, the new Gladiators referee.
Gladiators will return to Sky1 and Sky1 HD in January 2009 with new Gladiators, new games and new reporter Caroline Flack. The series will also see the return of Wolf and an all new refereeing team that will take charge in the Gladiators Arena.
John Coyle, one of Britain’s most respected boxing referees and former World Referee of the year will take over the reigns from original referee John Anderson for the Gladiators Christmas special and the new series of Gladiators starting on Sky1 in January.
Coyle has officiated bouts with some of the biggest fighters of recent times including Lennox Lewis, Joe Calzaghe, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Frank Bruno and Naseem Hamed. Coyle also refereed the infamous Mike Tyson/Lou Savarese fight in Glasgow in June 2000 where he was knocked down by Tyson after intervening to stop Tyson punching Savarese after the fight had been called.
John Coyle comments: “It’s an honour to be asked to officiate in the Gladiators arena. It will be tough, and I’m sure the likes of Wolf and Oblivion will try and give me the run-around, but I’m up to the job. If I can handle Tyson, Calzaghe, Bruno and Eubank, I can handle Wolf and Oblivion. I won’t tolerate any funny business.”
John Coyle is originally from London but now lives in Wolverhampton. He has refereed over 100 world title fights and was voted the WBA World Referee of the year in 1992.
Joining Coyle in the Gladiators Arena is Hugh Watkins, a rugby union referee who has taken charge of numerous Heineken cup, Six Nations and World Cup qualifiers. Hugh takes on the new role of Gladiators video referee and will assist John in any controversial decisions.
John Anderson will not be returning to Gladiators on Sky1. This series it was decided to refresh the format with a new referee, a new reporter, new games, new Gladiators and the return of Wolf.
