HE has been in a boxing ring more often than anyone from North Devon over the last decade – but Mitch Warburton has not thrown a punch.

Witty words rather than fast fists are his way of adding to the atmosphere on fight night.

Providing the soundtrack for some of the best shows in the South West, fans will recognise Warburton as the man with the microphone.

The Barnstaple ABC member, who admits he can talk for England, has been bringing his sense of humour to the role of ringside MC since 2004.

"I do try to make it an entertainment," he said. "Let the people laugh at you and you can all have a laugh together.

"I suppose I'm a bit of an outward-going person. It's no good being shy doing it."

As an ABC official since 2001, Warburton has worked as a recorder and MC at more than 100 shows.

He was honoured to take on the duty after the death of Ron Herniman, a respected Barnstaple member who gave more than 50 years' service to the sport.

Michael Buffer, perhaps the world's most famous ring announcer, is renowned for his catchphrase: "Let's get ready to rumble."

Warburton is yet to adopt a catchphrase but he always starts his shows with the same important message: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is amateur boxing and we don't appreciate booing.

"If you really want to boo, go and boo the professionals. Some of them need booing."

In amateur boxing, competitors are there simply for the love of the sport.

"Nobody is getting paid," said Warburton. "The boys train hard and they go out there and do their best.

"We all wonder how it would be to be a boxer, but they know, and they do it."

Warburton admitted he "never boxed to any standard at all".

Football was his main sport, playing for his home village of Berrynarbor and later Fremington and Northam Lions.

But the theatre of boxing was always his biggest interest.

"As a child I used to go to Barnstaple Fair with my uncle and stand in front of the boxing booth all night," he said.

"I'd watch people like Mickey Kiely and the way he worked his booth.

"He would always be dressed up like a proper MC with full dinner jacket and white shirt, the whole lot.

"His booths were painted beautifully with pictures of people like Randolph Turpin.

"All of those things really fired my imagination as a youngster and although I played football, boxing was my favourite sport."

Warburton's first night as MC was at Bideford Pannier Market in March 2004 and he has since covered shows in Plymouth and Somerset as well as North Devon.

Memorable ringside moments include Tommy Langford's thrilling win against Jimmy Briggs at Barnstaple Rugby Club and Robert Palmer's victory over Aaron Seldon at The Barnstaple Hotel.

Recently he has enjoyed the underdog exploits of Wes Smith, the Launceston teenager who showed great potential in defeats to Langford and Shane Saddler.

Whether working as a judge, timekeeper, or helping build the ring for the latest show, Warburton loves being involved in a close-knit sport.

"Boxing is a very friendly sport," he said. "It seems like it shouldn't be because it's about fellas having a fight.

"It's the closeness of the boxing community. It's a very small family."

Although not a qualified coach, he looks in at the Barnstaple gym on training nights to check progress.

"It's great when a young lad comes into the boxing club," said Warburton. "Absolutely hopeless, no discipline at all, he probably can't do his own shoelaces up.

"And some of them become accomplished boxers and nice young men. People you would be proud to know."

So in a tough sport, what is the toughest part of Warburton's job?

"Working with a lousy PA," he said clearly.

"Last Saturday I bought a new microphone for £178 and the darn thing failed.

"When you go somewhere with a good PA you can put a lot more expression into it. You can emphasise the words much better.

"They say when I get excited I sound a lot more like a Cockney than a Devonian. I try to keep my North Devonian accent."

Whatever his accent, there is no mistaking the voice of boxing in North Devon.