Arthur Mercante Sr.

Arthur Mercante Sr. (January 26, 1920 – April 10, 2010) was an American boxing referee. His career lasted from the 1960s until 2001. Mercante's son also became a noted referee.[1] In his youth, Arthur Mercante Sr. was a member of the Merchant Marines.[2]

His first title bout was the second fight between Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson. Johansson had won the world heavyweight title in the first fight. In the second fight, Patterson became the first fighter to regain the heavyweight title.[3]

Mercante was also the referee for many notable bouts, including the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight on March 8, 1971, the first bout between George Foreman and Joe Frazier, the first bout between Alexis Arguello and Alfredo Escalera, the Wilfredo Gomez-Lupe Pintor fight, the first bout between Edwin Rosario and Jose Luis Ramirez and Rosario's bout with Hector Camacho Sr..

Mercante served in the Navy during World War II and his commanding officer was heavyweight champion Gene Tunney.

His refereeing career began professionally in 1956 and ended in 2001 at the age of 81. In 1995 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.[4][5]

He was a contestant on the Jun 26, 1960 edition of the television game show "What's My Line". Refereeing was his avocation and the line the panel looked for was his vocation; that of beer salesman.

References
  1. Curry, Jack :Journey to a Record Kent and Bonds: Close in the Order, but Always Distant New York Times, July 15, 2007
  3. Arthur Mercante Sr., Hall of Fame Boxing Referee, Dies at 90 The New York Times, April 11, 2010
  4. Legendary boxing ref Mercante dies CBC Sports, April 10, 2010
  5. Arthur Mercante Sr., Hall of Fame Boxing Referee, Dies at 90 The New York Times, April 11, 2010

Literature
  • Inside the Ropes: Arthur Mercante.Arthur Mercante, Bert Randolph Sugar, Phil Guarnieri, 2006
  • Der dritte Mann im Ring - Arthur Mercante: Mein Leben als Boxrichter. Arthur Mercante, Bert Randolph Sugar, Phil Guarnieri, Aus dem Amerikanischen von Patrick Bartsch, Zürich 2012, Römerhof Verlag, ISBN 978-3-905894-09-7


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