Advisory Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
IBMC is continuing to expand our Advisory Board, a team of industry veterans with extensive backgrounds in both Boxing and MMA. This exceptional group includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, such as the medical field, commissioners, referees, trainers, and more. They bring invaluable experience and vision to guide our strategic direction. Stay tuned for further updates as we expand our exceptional team of advisors.
Dr. Michael Ward
Dr. Michael Ward brings a wealth of expertise to the IBMC Advisory Board as a fellowship-trained Family Practice/Sports Medicine Physician from Chicago. With over a decade of experience in professional boxing, MMA, and kickboxing, Dr. Ward's insights are invaluable. He has been an esteemed member of the Association of Ringside Physicians since 2014, boasting a remarkable 15 years of amateur boxing experience and active participation in USA Boxing.
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Dr. Ward's medical journey began with a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, culminating in his membership with the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine in 2006. Prior to this, he completed his Family Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago after earning his Medical Degree from Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago.
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Before diving into sports medicine, Dr. Ward made significant contributions to the medical field at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he specialized in organ matching and tissue typing in the Department of Transplantation. His groundbreaking work led to publications in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Transplantation and Transplantation Proceedings.
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Dr. Ward's academic journey includes a Master's Degree in developmental biology from Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. With his multifaceted background and unwavering dedication, Dr. Ward is a pivotal addition to the IBMC Advisory Board, guiding our endeavors with precision and passion.
Mark Nelson
Boxing referee for 35 years (32 professionally). Officiated in over 2000 amateur and 1000 professional bouts that include 94 world title
assignments in22 different countries throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, United Kingdom, South America, Southeast Asia,
Russia, Tajikistan, India, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Licenses
Sanctioning bodies: IBF, WBO, WBC & WBA. Jurisdictions: Minnesota, Nevada, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, New York,
South Dakota, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (MN), Fond du Lac (MN) and Oneida Indian Nation (NY)
History
• Started refereeing amateur boxing in 1989 to present
• Elected Upper Midwest Golden Gloves Chief Referee, 1991 to present
• Granted a professional referee license in 1992 - First international assignment, Bari, Italy, 1994
Notable Assignments
• Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - ESPN PPV & DAZN PPV
• Manny Pacquiao vs Jeff Horn - Brisbane Australia - ESPN
• Andre Berto vs Shawn Porter - Brooklyn NY - SHOWTIME
• Terrance Crawford vs John Molina Jr. - Omaha Nebraska, HBO
• Russian Provodnikov vs John Molina Jr. - Turning Stone Resort, NY
• Amir Khan vs Chris Algieri - WBC Silver Welterweight Title - New York, NY - SPIKE TV
• Zou Shiming vs Amnat Ruenroeng - IBF Flyweight Title - Macao China - HBO
• Terence Crawford vs Ray Beltran - WBO - Omaha, Nebraska - HBO
• Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Sod Kokietgym - WBO/WBA - Macau China - HBO
• Marco Huck vs Firat Arslan - WBO - Germany - 1HD TV
• Darren Barker vs Felix Sturm - IBF - Germany - 1HD TV
• Chris John vs Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo - WBA - Singapore
• Tavoris Cloud vs Gabriel Campillo - IBF - Texas - SHOWTIME
• Lucian Bute vs Glen Johnson - IBF - Quebec, Canada - SHOWTIME
• Joe Calzahe vs Charlse Brewer - WBO - Cardiff, Wales - SHOWTIME
Training
I have attended 100 conventions/training seminars worldwide for the IBF, WBO, WBC, WBA, NABF, ABC and WBU which included
referee, judging and medical seminars.
Seminars & ABC training classes I have instructed
• 2022 ABC Referees Training, WBO Convention, San Juan, PR
• 2022 IBF/USBA Convention, Long Beach California
• 2021 ABC Referees Training, Indiana Athletic Commission
• 2021 ABC Referees Training, Iowa Athletic Commission
• 2021 ABC Referees Training, WBO, San Juan PR
• 2021 ABC Referees Training, Orlando, Florida, ABC Annual Conference
• 2018 IBF/USBA Convention, Turin, Italy
• 2016 ABC Referees Training, Manitoba Canada, Combative Sports Commission
• 2016 India - New Deli, Indian Boxing Commission
• 2016 ABC Referees Training, WBO Convention, San Juan, PR
• 2015 ABC Referees Training, North Carolina, Boxing Authority
• 2015 WBO Convention, Orlando, Florida
• 2015 Training, State of Texas Department of Labor and Industry. Boxing Commission
• 2015 IBF/USBA Convention, Montreal, Canada
• 2015 IBF China Training, Beijing, China
• 2015 Training, NY State Athletic Commission
• 2014 ABC Referees Training, Manitoba, Canada Commission
• 2013 ABC Referees Training, North Carolina, Boxing Authority
• 2012 ABC Referees Training, Grand Casino Hinckley, Minnesota
• 2010 ABC Referees Training, St. Louis, MO
• 2006 WBA Convention, Tokyo Japan
• 2003 WBA Convention, Bali Indonesia
• 2000 IBF/USBA Convention, Acapulco, Mexico
• 2000 Training for the State of Washington Ring Officials
• 1996 IBF/USBA Convention. Toronto, Canada
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Personal
Son of retired Boxing Referee/Judge Denny Nelson. Native of St. Paul Minnesota. 34 years service at Deluxe Corporation (1986 to
2020). Owner of Nelson Custom Framing and www.news-frame.com
Rafael Caro II
Rafael Caro II's career spans pivotal roles in government administration and regulatory oversight, showcasing his adept leadership and strategic vision. Serving as Executive Administrator at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from 2003 to 2005, Mr. Caro supervised and collaborated closely with senior staff, including the Secretary of the Department, overseeing multifaceted operations in Chicago and Springfield, IL.
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Transitioning to a specialized focus on professional sports regulation, Mr. Caro dedicated a decade of his career, from 2005 to 2015, to the oversight of Professional Boxing within the department. His meticulous management extended to every aspect of the sport, ensuring adherence to regulations and fostering its growth.
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A pivotal moment in Mr. Caro's career came with his instrumental role in introducing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to the State of Illinois. Collaborating directly with the Illinois Governor's office, he played a key role in facilitating the integration of MMA, one of the world's fastest-growing sports at the time. Mr. Caro's contributions were foundational; he authored and crafted the inaugural rules for MMA, shaping its regulatory framework from inception.
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Beyond his direct involvement with combat sports regulation, Mr. Caro's influence extended to modernizing the Athletics Unit and establishing enduring documents and forms that remain integral to regulatory processes today. His dedication to regulatory excellence and innovation underscores his pivotal role as a member of the IBMC Advisory Board.