Newham's Mik Basi and Mr Woo

Mik Basi was voted as the best Boxing offical at London 2012

Alongside the record-breaking success of the GB boxing squad at the Olympic Games, Newham referee Mik Basi received the AIBA award as the top boxing official at the tournament.

The award, presented by AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, came at the end of the tournament at the ExCel centre in Docklands, in which the home boxing squad won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

It was the latest official recognition for the abilities of the 46-year-old who has taken the top referee/judging awards at international tournments all round the globe.

However he admits:”It means something extra special to be honoured at the end of a tournament in the town where I was born and first learned to box as a schoolboy.”

Taking special pride in the award was Jumbo Basi who first took his younger brother to Plaistow’s Fairbairn House BC and still runs the boxing club now based in Ilford.

“The Olympics is the greatest show on earth and Mik was honoured to be voted the top official at the Games,” said Jumbo, also a leading referee who works alongside his brother in their family business Bas1 Embroidery.

Like the boxers at the Games the officials are reduced as the competition progresses with the best retained for the finals. The Newham referee stayed the full course and took the number one award.

The London 2012 Games also opened on a high note for Basi when he was selected to read the officials’ oath at the opening ceremony before a live audience of 80,000 and millions of TV viewers world wide.

Another Newham-born official working at the tournament was Danny O’Sullivan, Dagenham BC secretary and announcer at the tournament, who was delighted to see Basi receive his special award.

“It was well deserved – Mik is definitely the best in the business,” said O’Sullivan who felt pride in announcing the victory of super heavyweight Anthony Joshua over Italian champion Roberto Cammarelle, the dramatic win which completed GB’s golden haul.

“To announce it to the world was a privilege I’ll never forget,” said O’Sullivan, with the added drama of the countback result of 56-53 to the Londoner after the scores were level at 18-18.

Then came the extra suspense with the Italians unsuccessfully protesting the decision: “I was so pleased for Josh and the entire GB boxing team, especially Nicola Adams the first ever female Olympic boxing champion and bantamweight Luke Campbell who put on a perfect display,” he said.

“I am certain their success will inspire a lot of young kids, especially girls into trying amateur boxing at clubs around the country,” said O’Sullivan who has always worked hard to attract youngsters into the sport.