LEGENDARY REFEREE ATHUR MERCANTE SR PASSES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Apr 2010
Legendary Hall-of-Fame referee Arthur Mercante Sr has passed away at the age of 90. His career began professionally in 1954 and ended when he was 81 in 2001.
Mercante Sr refereed several top world title fights but among the biggest was the ?Fight of the Century? when Muhammad Ali made a comeback and in his first battle with Joe Frazier lost a decision at New York?s famed Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.
He was the third man in the ring in title fights featuring Emile Griffith, George Foreman, Floyd Patterson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carlos Ortiz, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Julio Cesar Chavez and Shane Mosley among others.
The last fight Arthur Mercante Sr refereed was the bout between southpaw Zab Judah and Reggie Green when he was an active 81.
Mercante Sr served in the US Navy during World War II and his commanding officer was heavyweight champion Gene Tunney.
Mercante Sr was inducted into the Boxing Hall-of-Fame in Canastota, New York in 1995. He is survived by his wife Gloria and sons James, Glenn, Arthur and Thomas.
Our condolences to the family of a truly fine referee and a gentleman who will be sorely missed.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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