John R. Branca
Encyclopedia
John Ralph Branca was an American Democratic Party
politician who was elected to two terms in the New York State Assembly
, serving from 1981 to 1983. He left elected office when he was appointed as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission
in 1983, where he sought to implement changes to enhance the safety of boxers and wrestlers.
Branca grew up in Mount Vernon, New York
, where he played baseball with his younger brother Ralph
at A. B. Davis High School. In an obituary in The New York Times
, his brother Ralph, who played in the major leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers, said that "He was better than me at that point". He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II
. After completing his military service he attended New York University
where he earned a bachelor's and master's degrees.
He was a coach and teacher at the local high school and served as Mount Vernon's recreation commissioner from 1962 to 1980. Elected to the State Assembly in 1979, he served until 1983, when he was named chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission by Governor of New York
Mario Cuomo
, with a goal "to revitalize and professionalize the boxing profession". As commissioner, he pushed for the use of thumbless boxing gloves, added portable computers at ringside to allow officials to verify the boxing records of late substitutions on a card and supported the creation of a national system to track boxers after questions had been raised after the brain injury death of lightweight Isidro Perez
after being knocked out in a fight to Juan Ramon Cruz in October 1983 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden
.
Branca announced that he would have all three judges be women for a middleweight title fight between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Mustafa Hamsho
, calling the move "a great publicity gimmick". After Pat Petronelli suggested that "there's going to be a lot of blood and I don't want the three judges throwing up", Eva Shain
was the only woman to judge the fight. He resigned from the athletic commission in November 1984, 16 months after taking on the post, to run for Mayor of Mount Vernon, following the death of Thomas Sharpe in February.
A resident of Deerfield Beach, Florida
, Branca died at age 86 on July 17, 2010, due to vascular disease
while at a hospice in Boca Raton, Florida
. He was survived by his wife, Mildred, as well as by a daughter, two sons and four grandchildren. He was also survived by his brothers Ralph and Al.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who was elected to two terms in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, serving from 1981 to 1983. He left elected office when he was appointed as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission
New York State Athletic Commission
The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials,...
in 1983, where he sought to implement changes to enhance the safety of boxers and wrestlers.
Branca grew up in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, where he played baseball with his younger brother Ralph
Ralph Branca
Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.From 1944 through 1956, Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Detroit Tigers , and New York Yankees...
at A. B. Davis High School. In an obituary in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, his brother Ralph, who played in the major leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers, said that "He was better than me at that point". He served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After completing his military service he attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
where he earned a bachelor's and master's degrees.
He was a coach and teacher at the local high school and served as Mount Vernon's recreation commissioner from 1962 to 1980. Elected to the State Assembly in 1979, he served until 1983, when he was named chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission by Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, with a goal "to revitalize and professionalize the boxing profession". As commissioner, he pushed for the use of thumbless boxing gloves, added portable computers at ringside to allow officials to verify the boxing records of late substitutions on a card and supported the creation of a national system to track boxers after questions had been raised after the brain injury death of lightweight Isidro Perez
Isidro Perez
Isidro Pérez was a Mexican boxer in the Lightweight division. Pérez is a former two-time WBO Flyweight Champion.-Professional career:...
after being knocked out in a fight to Juan Ramon Cruz in October 1983 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
Branca announced that he would have all three judges be women for a middleweight title fight between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Mustafa Hamsho
Mustafa Hamsho
Mustafa Hamsho , born in 10 October 1953 in Latakia, Syria, was a Assyrian/Syriac boxer who never won a world title, but fought some big names in his career. Though he was not a winner in all of those fights, he did some things to make every one of his fights interesting and controversial in some...
, calling the move "a great publicity gimmick". After Pat Petronelli suggested that "there's going to be a lot of blood and I don't want the three judges throwing up", Eva Shain
Eva Shain
Eva Shain was an American boxing judge who was one of the first female judges in New York and became the first woman to judge a heavyweight championship bout when she was one of the judges at the 1977 fight between Muhammad Ali and Earnie Shavers in 1977 at Madison Square Garden.Shain grew up in...
was the only woman to judge the fight. He resigned from the athletic commission in November 1984, 16 months after taking on the post, to run for Mayor of Mount Vernon, following the death of Thomas Sharpe in February.
A resident of Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Deerfield Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, USA. The city is named for the numerous deer that once roamed the area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,018...
, Branca died at age 86 on July 17, 2010, due to vascular disease
Vascular disease
Vascular disease is a form of cardiovascular disease primarily affecting the blood vessels.Some conditions, such as angina and myocardial ischemia, can be considered both vascular diseases and heart diseases .Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor....
while at a hospice in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
. He was survived by his wife, Mildred, as well as by a daughter, two sons and four grandchildren. He was also survived by his brothers Ralph and Al.