Harry Gibbs

Who was Harry Gibbs?

Harry Gibbs OBE was an English boxing referee and judge.

In a career spanning four decades, Gibbs took charge of numerous world title fights, and officiated in bouts involving Muhammad Ali, Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Thomas Hearns, Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan and Joe Frazier. He was the referee and sole judge of the fight between Henry Cooper and Joe Bugner in 1971, awarding the fight to Bugner by a quarter of a point, which remains one of the most controversial decisions in British boxing history.

His name was put forward to be a judge in the Marvin Hagler vs Ray Leonard match. The Hagler camp objected and he was replaced by JoJo Guerra, who scored it 118-110 for Leonard.