What’s the Buzz: ‘Sorry for swearing … but I saved Gal from going to hospital’

Referee John Cauchi has explained his decision to end the Justis Huni-Paul Gallen fight – and why he unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade at Gallen’s corner.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 16: Paul Gallen punches Justis Huni during their Australian heavyweight title fight at ICC Sydney on June 16, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Boxing referee John Cauchi has apologised for his foul-mouthed tirade after the brutal Paul Gallen v Justis Huni fight but insists he saved the former NRL star from being bashed into a hospital bed.

“If I’d let that fight go Paul wouldn’t have gone home with his wife,” said the 74-year-old ref.

“He would have been in hospital.

“Seriously, he could have been hurt real bad. He was gone completely. I wasn’t going to take a risk.

“I know Gallen is tough but the other guy could have landed one more big punch and knocked the hell out of him.

“I care about their health more than anything. I don’t care who wins and loses.”

It was Cauchi’s decision to end the fight midway through the final round that led to a wild and heated exchange with the veteran referee pushing Gallen’s corner man, former Australian champion Peter Mitrevski.

Referee John Cauchi in the thick of things in the Paul Gallen-Justin Huni fight in Sydney on Wednesday night.

With a microphone pinned to his shirt, he yelled to a protesting Mitrevski: “F*** off! You f***ing idiot. You’re an idiot.”

The referee has now told The Sunday Telegraph: “Of course I regret my language. I’m a professional. I shouldn’t have even been talking to him. Of course I regret it.”

He said he was more nervous than usual in the days leading up to the fight because of all the hype.

“I didn’t sleep for two days,” he said.

Cauchi watches as Paul Gallen punches Justis Huni. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I was worried and thinking about the rules in my head all the time. I was very nervous.

“Paul Gallen said he was going to break every bone in his body. The other guy said ‘do your best.’

“I was worried he might break the rules. All these things are in your head.”

He also revealed there was a flare-up with Mitrevski during the fight.

“I walked over to his corner and said ‘Peter shut up or I’ll throw you out,’ Cauchi said, “or I’ll get the supervisor to do it.”

THE DECISION

Cauchi insists he did the right thing.

“It’s a big, big fight and I know how tough Gallen is,” he said. “I went to his corner twice to check he was okay.

“Then he was knocked down near the end. I looked at his eyes. They were closed.

“When I waved my arms he didn’t even know I was waving them. I put my hand around his neck, just on the side of his head. I said ‘Paul that’s enough mate.’ He said ‘no, no.’

“In 40 years refereeing I’ve never had a boxer seriously hurt on my watch. And I never want it to happen. I take it very seriously.

THE FEUD

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal there is a long history between Mitrevski and the referee.

It dates back more than 25 years to Mitrevski’s first ever fight as a professional.

That night Cauchi ruled a technical draw and said Mitrevski had accidently head-butted his opponent in the second round.

“We haven’t spoken since then,” Mitrevski said.

“This was 1995. I stopped my opponent with a cut to the eye in the first round.

“He ruled it a head-butt and a technical draw. The video showed it wasn’t a head-butt.

“It cost me a victory in my debut. I believe he still has an agenda against me because I lodged a protest after the fight.”

Cauchi recalls the drama: ““I explained the situation and they (boxing authority) stuck with my decision. Peter couldn’t accept it. He’s always had a chip on his shoulder about it.”

Team Gallen: Pete the Greek, Pete Mitrevski, Graham Shaw, Paul Gallen, Scott Hogan, Brian Wilmott, and Caine Janakievski. Picture: Justin Lloyd

SACK THE REF

It can now be revealed Mitrevski tried to have Cauchi removed from the fight in the 48 hours before the event. He complained to the combat sports authority.

Other boxers, including Jeff Fenech, have questioned Cauchi’s temperament.

“This was nothing personal,” Mitrevski said.

“It comes back to the Jeff Horn v Michael Zerafa fight and the way he handled it.

“Zerafa was about to knock Horn out. He stops the fight so the doctor could check out Horn.

“It changed the course of the fight. Jeff got a break and came back and won.”

Mitrevski is angry that he was pushed and called a f … ing idiot.

And he insists Gallen could have gone the distance.

“Replays showed he slipped on the canvas – he was ok,” Mitrevski said.

“He would have survived to the end of the round. Paul knows that and I know that.”