LAS VEGAS – International boxing referee Bruce McTavish, who worked on several fights of Manny Pacquiao in the past, died in his hometown of Angeles City, Pampanga last Wednesday.
He was 84.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand but granted citizenship in 2018 after 51 years of staying in the country, McTavish opted to reside in Pampanga where he initially worked as a field office manager of an American automobile manufacturer in Clark before becoming a professional referee.
READ: Senate grants Bruce McTavish Filipino citizenship
He had worked around 150 boxing matches including Pacquiao’s fight with former world champion Oscar Larios at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in 2006.
McTavish was a three-time Referee of the Year by the World Boxing Council (2013, 2015, 2017) and refereed the first-ever women’s world title fight between Siriporn Thaweesuk and Ayaka Miyano in Bangkok Thailand also in 2006.
He was an active member of the Rotary Club of the Philippines and was the first non-Filipino head of the Rotary Club of Mabalacat and Rotary Club of Clark Centennial.
As a long-time resident of Pampanga and married to Carmen Tayag, Pampanga Vice-Governor and Converge assistant coach Dennis’ Delta’ Pineda paid tribute to McTavish in a post through his Facebook page.
His remains lie at the Divine Mercy in Carmenville, Angeles City starting on Thursday (July 17), while interment will be held on Sunday (July 20) after the 7:30 a.m. mass.
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