Boxing judge, referee Larry Rozadilla dies at 72
January 15, 2003 Print it
Associated Press
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. -- Larry Rozadilla, a boxing referee and judge who worked 131 championship bouts and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999, has died at age 72.
Rozadilla died of cancer at his home in Manhattan Beach on Saturday, his widow, Lillian, said Wednesday.
Rozadilla had been ill for about two years, and no longer worked inside the ring. He continued to judge matches and evaluate referees as late as November.
Among the fights Rozadilla worked during his 35-year career, was Mike Tyson's loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990.
One of the last fights Rozadilla refereed was at Staples Center in July 2001, when Roy Jones Jr. beat Julio Gonzalez to retain his undisputed light heavyweight title.
He also worked the bouts of such popular boxers as Thomas Hearns, Vinnie Pazienza and Danny "Little Red" Lopez.
Rozadilla started boxing while in the military, serving as an Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War. He had a brief professional career as a boxer, but his trainer persuaded him to go to college.
Rozadilla graduated from the University of Southern California and earned his masters in education at Mount St. Mary's College.
He later spent 32 years working in education, retiring as dean of East Los Angeles College.
In addition to his wife of 32 years, Rozadilla is survived by daughters two daughters and two grandchildren.
AI
