Ref Terry's a real heavyweight
During his average week, fruit machine salesman Terry O' Connor can be found doing the rounds of the West Midlands pubs and clubs.
But away from his day job he is often working rounds of a different kind as one of the world's most sought-after boxing referees.
And on Saturday he will be the man in the middle in Cardiff during the super-middleweight title bout between Joe Calzaghe and American fighter Peter Manfredo Jnr, to be televised live across the globe.
But the pressure of the big occasion is unlikely to get to Terry, who has presided over numerous big name fights as one of just 11 A-star referees worldwide.
His part-time job takes him around the world where he has refereed fighters including rising British star Amir Khan, world heavyweight champion Nikolay 'Beast from the East' Valuev and Matt Skelton.
He has also often been asked to be on the judging panels at fights in the past featuring big names such as Lennox Lewis and Ricky Hatton.
Terry, aged 52, of Wordsley, Stourbridge, is a former boxer himself and was Midland Heavyweight Champion in 1981. And the path to refereeing seemed an obvious one when he retired at 30.
He said: "I was a boxer but never got the breaks because I wasn't based in London and there wasn't as many belts around at that time.
"For me refereeing is the next best thing to boxing and the closest you can get to the action.
"I have been doing it for quite a while now and go all over the world. I have done fights in Australia, America, Japan and South Africa. I am going to Belarus soon."
He added: "My ambition was to referee a heavyweight title fight and I have done that now but I still have a good 12 years left before I have to retire and I still get a buzz from refereeing."
He added: "You have got to be on the ball and be close enough to keep an eye on the action, but far enough away not to impinge on the fight."
However in one fight, featuring British heavyweight Matt Skelton, he got a little too close to the action and took a direct shot on the shoulder.
He said: "Because I have been a boxer myself I saw it coming and twisted into the punch and took it on the shoulder. If I had taken it on the chin it might have been another story."
It can also be an intimidating atmosphere. When refereeing one heavyweight fight Terry was dwarfed by Russian world champion Nikolay Valuev who stands at over 7ft and is known as the Beast from the East.
Terry's 29-year-old son Stuart has also followed in his father's footsteps recently winning the Combined Services heavyweight title while serving in the Royal Navy.
He said: "I am very proud and have pictures of me and Stuart both with our belts."
Joe Calzaghe fights Peter Manfredo Jnr in Cardiff at around 11pm on Saturday. The fight will be screened live on ITV and Sky.
