Referees act as the third man in a boxing ring and so it is no surprise that Veteran referee Steve Willis has always been such a hit with the fans.With numerous tweets appearing whenever you search his name, the American referee is known for his animated reactions to the fights that he witnesses. He has essentially gone viral for being excited about his job.One such time that saw him go global was during a bout between Josesito Lopez and Keith Thurman. A hellish seventh round saw an almighty left hook completely rock the WBA welterweight champion which immediately caught the fansâ attention. However, it was Willisâs clear investment that took the spotlight. Caught bent at the waist with his hands on his knees, his eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets as he fully focused in on the action. He has often been captured grinding his teeth, clenching his fists, or trying to fight back a smile at what he witnesses.Willis spoke to Sporting News about his priceless in-fight facial expressions. He said: âContrary to popular belief, I try real hard not to do it. But when the heat is on, it just comes out. Iâm more mortified than anybody. If I was standing outside â me looking at another official â Iâd be like âWhat is this guy doing?â But fans and people that know me are just like, âThatâs you.â I came to the conclusion that Iâm a bad poker player. Some referees have the ability to referee without their face functions kicking in â they just make their move. Tony Weeks can do that. Me ⦠my brain process comes through.âDecember 2014 is the first time that Willis can remember fans talking about his in-ring energy and reactions.
He was overseeing a fight between David Lemieux and Gabriel Rosado at Brooklynâs Barclays Center, and he was frequently seen balling his fists up, grinding his teeth, and smiling.
Reminiscing on the bout, he said: âI got home, and my sister was calling me and saying, âYou always gotta be an idiot,â and Iâm like âWhat are you talking about?ââ
Throughout his illustrious career, many fans have been quick to salute him for his passion for the job with many wishing that they too had the same energy towards their line of work.