'You shook the hand that shook the world': Ipswich boxing ref's encounter with Lennox Lewis

Why it matters: Simon Mullan's meeting with Lewis came during another successful step towards his goal of becoming an Olympic referee, as he officiated nine fights including two finals at the Boxam 2025 tournament in Spain.

The details: The 47-year-old Suffolk New College welding lecturer met Lewis during the five-day tournament in La Nucia, where the former heavyweight champion was running a training camp to promote amateur boxing.

"I got to chat to him and talked about Lewis Richardson and the Olympics and also discussed how I saw him fight Frank Bruno in Cardiff," Mullan said.

"We had a joke and then he grabbed my hand and he started shaking it firmly. He then said, now you can tell everybody that you shook the hand that shook the world."

Background: Mullan, who boxed against Joe Calzaghe in his youth, has already made significant contributions to British boxing:

• He coached 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Lewis Richardson
• He now represents Team GB as a referee on the international circuit
• He officiated nine bouts including two finals at Boxam 2025

What they're saying: "It was a great experience and an honour to represent Team GB," Mullan said. "It was a really good tournament for me personally and for our boxers who collectively won 14 medals. I was delighted for Team GB and it was another step along the way to me achieving my dream of being at the Olympics as a ref."

What's next: Mullan is planning more international tournaments later in the year and hopes to organise a visit to Suffolk New College with Olympic bronze medallist Lewis Richardson to speak with students.

The bottom line: Craig Shimmon, head of marketing at Suffolk New College, said: "Simon is a tremendous character, a fantastic teacher and his boxing exploits really help the students he works with to dream big."