ðə fˈɔːɹmɚ wˈɜːld tʃˈæmpiən, ɹˈɛdʒ mˈɛlɚ, ɪz kɹˈɛdɪɾᵻd wɪð ˈɪnstɪtˌuːɾɪŋ ðə pɹˈæktɪs ʌv wˈɛɹɪŋ wˈaɪt tɹˈaʊsɚz ɪn fˈɛɹɪtlˈɛɡɪŋ mˈætʃᵻz, tə bˈɛɾɚ dɪsplˈeɪ ðə blˈʌd fɹʌmðə wˈuːndz kˈɔːzd baɪ ðɪ ˈænɪməlz.
The former world champion, Reg Mellor, is credited with instituting the practice of wearing white trousers in ferret-legging matches, to better display the blood from the wounds caused by the animals.