RICHARD STEELE

Richard Steele has been in boxing for over 40 years, first as a fighter and then, arguably, as the world's most famous and finest referee. He grew up in Los Angeles and began his boxing career while in the Marines. In 1963 and 1964 he was "All Marine Corps Champion", and competed in the 1964 Olympic trials. One of his Marine teammates was Ken Norton, who went on to become World Heavyweight Champion. Richard Steele had an amateur record of 21-4 and a professional record of 16-4, 12KO's.

Richard began his career as a referee in the 1970's, and went on to be he man in the middle for nearly 200 world title fights around the globe. In 1983 he called his first major bout when Aaron Pryor knocked out Alexis Arguello in ten rounds in the rematch. He went on to referee such epic battles as Hagler-Hearns, Chavez-Taylor I, Leonard-Hagler, and 5 fights with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Richard Steele was inducted into the World Boxing Hall Fame in 2000.

Outside the ring, Richard has established himself as a community conscious person, opening the Richard Steele Boxing Club in North Las Vegas. This 32,000 sq. ft. facility is open to troubled youth in the Las Vegas area and has a job placement program. He also helps out with the Salvation Army and serves on the Board of Directors of the Nevada Chapter of the United States Amateur Boxing Association. His own teams have competed in amateur boxing exhibitions around the world.

Richard Steele has received numerous awards and recognitions through the years, but he is particularly proud of being honored in 1999 by South African Prime Minister Nelson Mandela for his refusal to referee boxing matches there while the country was being governed by the rules of apartheid.

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