Arthur Mercante
Encyclopedia
Arthur Mercante Sr. was an international boxing referee. His career lasted from the 1960s until 2001. Mercante's son also became a noted referee. In his youth, Arthur Mercante Sr. was a member of the Merchant Marines.
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.
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 1954 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
.
His first title bout was the second fight between Floyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson
Floyd Patterson was an American heavyweight boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion. At 21, Patterson became the youngest man to win the world heavyweight title. He was also the first heavyweight boxer to regain the title. He had a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by...
and Ingemar Johansson
Ingemar Johansson
Jens Ingemar Johansson was a Swedish boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world. Johansson was the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. In 1959 he defeated Floyd Patterson by TKO in the third round, after flooring Patterson seven times in that round, to win the World...
. 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.
Mercante was also the referee for many notable bouts, including the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight
Fight of the Century
Fight of the Century was the promotional nickname given to the first boxing match between champion Joe Frazier and challenger Muhammad Ali , held on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York....
on March 8, 1971, the first bout between George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
and Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
, the first bout between Alexis Arguello and Alfredo Escalera
The Bloody Battle of Bayamon
The Bloody Battle of Bayamón was a boxing fight held on January 28, 1978 at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, between defending WBC world Jr. Lightweight champion Alfredo Escalera, and former WBA world Featherweight champion Alexis Argüello of Nicaragua...
, the Wilfredo Gomez-Lupe Pintor fight
Carnival of Champions
The Carnival Of Champions, as Don King nicknamed it, was an important boxing event held in New Orleans's Louisiana Superdome on December 3, 1982....
, the first bout between Edwin Rosario
Edwin Rosario
Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario was a Puerto Rican boxer. He was the WBC world lightweight champion from 1983–84 and the WBA world champion in 1986–87 and again in 1989–90...
and Jose Luis Ramirez
José Luis Ramírez
José Luis Ramírez is a retired Mexican boxer. He was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.-Career:A native of Huatabampo, Sonora and a resident of Culiacán, Ramírez made his professional debut on March 25, 1973 at the age of 15. He climbed slowly but steadily on boxing's rankings...
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
Gene Tunney
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-1928 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight...
.
His refereeing career began professionally in 1954 and ended in 2001 at the age of 81. In 1995 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in Canastota, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.