User:Zeebox134/sandbox

Joe Santarpia
Joe Santarpia has been the third man in the ring for well over 75 championship boxing contest and is an extremely well respected member of the boxing community.Joe began his career as an amateur boxer.He made it to the semi finals in the New York Golden Gloves.He then went on to become the captain of a talented American boxing team when they competed against Englands team in the Internationals.On that team was the great three time world champ Carlos Ortiz.Joe sustained an injury to his left eye forcing him to make unwanted adjustments for his future vocation.Joe then began his career as a professional referee in 1973.During his career as a referee his has been in the ring with many greats such as,Hagler,Bonecrusher Smith,Panzienza,Whitaker,Davis to name a few.Joe was in the ring in 1988 for the last scheduled 15 round fight in the United States in which,Buddy McGirt knockout Howard Davis in the first round to capture the title.More recent big title fights that Joe officiated was Bowe versus Dokes at the Garden in 1993 and the Wladimir Klitschko knockout of David Bostice also at Madison Square Garden.Joe has also refereed fights in Italy,England,Demark and is considered a World Renowned Referee.During his time as a referee his was also a gym owner and fight trainer.He passed on a bit of his boxing gene to his son Michael Santarpia,who like his Dad fought in the New York Golden Gloves.The Verteran Boxing Foundation just awarded Joe with the Arthur Mercante Service Award in 2012.