KENT can boast a remarkable double in having the only fully qualified father and son international boxing referees in the country.

And they both go by the name of Geoff Cannell.

Geoff snr has been a referee for 30 years and on the international panel for the last 25 years while 33-year-old son Geoff jnr has now also qualified for the international panel.

Geoff snr has refereed all over the world and he was a founder member of the Folkestone club back in 1970 after a career boxing in the army.

He left the club in 1995 to concentrate on refereeing and has handled bouts in every sort of national championship from seniors through to schoolboys.

But he feels his son is now better than he was at the same age and is looking to go on to a productive career in the ring.

The 33-year-old Geoff jnr from Etchinghill had a sparkling career in the ring unbeaten as a junior for the Folkestone club.

He gave up the gloves to follow his father into refereeing and has now passed the stringent written, oral and practical examinations needed to make the England major panel.