Why Isn’t Boxing Ref Frank Cappuccino in the IBHOF?
 By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing (Nov 9, 2011) Doghouse Boxing
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On a Saturday afternoon boxing’s
referee and judge, Frank Cappuccino and his wife welcomed me to their
home in Yardley, PA. Frank was in the garage with the door up and I
could see oh so many of his pictures with many great boxers. Even a
person passing by had to come in and take a look in amazement.
The 82 year old former top referee
always was his “own man”. When I first got licensed I was
approached by someone that suggested working with me. I told him I
would have none of that,” said Cappuccino.
Every time I hear Hall of Famer referee
Joe Cortez say “I am fair, but firm” I think “he’s talked
about Frank Cappuccino! He’s been the referee in some 96 bouts of
various titles. “I wasn’t born in Italy but my parents were and
it was not easy for us Italians growing up in the Kensington section
of Philadelphia. My older brother Vic and I learned early that you
either run or fight. We chose to fight!”
“I was 4 years old when I started
boxing mostly out of the Lamb’s Club at Frankford and Somerset in
Kensington. I had about 130 amateur bouts. We would travel with
Mickey Grandanetti every Wednesday to New York to fight in smokers.
I told him I didn’t want a watch but wanted the cash. I turned
professional and had 8 bouts. I knew I wasn’t going to be a
champion and when my brother Vic suggested I become a referee I
decided I would be,” said Cappuccino.
“I approached Zack Clayton about
becoming a referee. He and people like Pete Tomasco were my
favorites when I started. I remember called Arthur Mercante No. 1
and he would return the favor,” said Cappuccino.
One of the most famous bouts Cappuccino
did was the Michael Spinks and Mike Tyson dual title’s bout (See video of fight on this page).
“People would tell me Spinks looked scared to death before he got
into the ring. Spinks was not afraid. I saw him fight too many
times. He always had the same look on his face,” said Cappuccino.
I think I was one that asked among others. “Before I entered the
ring for that fight I thought how does a little kid from South Philly
get to referee one of the greatest fights in history?” He added,
“as soon as I entered the ring it was like any other fight.”
“One of my fondest memories was
working in Monte Carlo. Prince Albert said he wanted to meet me
after the fights but was taken away before the end so we didn’t get
to meet. He called me shortly after this and apologized. I get a
Christmas card from him every year. His uncle Jack Kelly and I
worked out in the same gym in Philadelphia. He was a champion
rower,” said Cappuccino.
When Tyson got out of prison his first
fight was in Philly with Buster Mathis, Jr. I remember Cappuccino
told Mathis “get off of him Buster”! Tyson was not at his best
against the ropes and when Mathis got off of him Tyson punished him.
Cappuccino has had his conflicts with
both PA and NJ head’s. “Greg Sirb got me so mad one night I was
tempted to hit him. I figured if I did he would sue me,” said
Cappuccino. Speaking of Sirb top cutman and now promoter Joey Eye
had something to say about him.
One of my fondest memories of Frank was
when he refereed an exhibition charity bout between me and Greg Sirb”
Frank kept stopping me from mauling Sirb to death every time I would
corner him and start to go to the body good ole Frank would jump in
and yell at me “Joey don’t hurt our boss!” He continued, “I
almost broke up laughing everytime he said it that night cause so
many people in the weeks leading up to the fight kept telling me to
“give em one for me! But my good friend and one of the bests ref’s
ever kept me grounded and helped me from making any mistakes like
beating up the guy who holds my license! Thanks Frank. You’re the
best!”
When NJ commissioner Larry Hazzard was
ushered out of his office and dismissed as boxing commissioner Philly
Daily New’s boxing writer Bernard Fernandez asked Cappuccino what
he thought? “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” said
Cappuccino. Seems Hazzard had sent Cappuccino some “poison
letters” about his style of officiating. “I didn’t call him
but drove right to his office and told him at least I don’t move
around like a monkey,” said Cappuccino. Hazzard had a style as if
he had sunburn in his armpits with elbows out jumping around the ring
as if he were Charley Chaplin. Some nerve questioning Cappuccino’s
style.
“I remember doing a big fight and
Jack Nicholson yelling over “why didn’t you let it go a little
longer Frank?” He pointed to the losing fighter and said ask him.
Singer and actress Florence Henderson
was a big a big fan of Cappuccino’s. “She was at the fights one
night and I heard someone yell “hey Frank”. I looked around not
figuring she was calling me but she was. She said I don’t really
like boxing but I love watching you referee and wanted my picture
taken with you,” said Cappuccino. He pointed to that one on the
garage wall. He would appear in Rocky 5 as a referee. “I still
get residuals from that movie and it helps to pay toward the gas some
months,” said Cappuccino.
“Marvin Hagler was one of my favorite
boxers. Maybe because he was a southpaw too, but he was always in
top shape,” said Cappuccino. Hagler made a name for himself
fighting in Philly rings.
After 2 hours at the lovely home of the
Cappuccino’s I left with a real fondness for Frank Cappuccino.
This no-nonsense referee in the ring was so well spoken and full of
memories that I will treasure. One has to ask “Why isn’t Frank
Cappuccino in the IBHOF?” .
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