Ruby Goldstein - Referee Career

Referee Career

Later, after his boxing career ended Goldstein became a popular referee, and he was the 'third man' in several high-profile fights.

For example, he refereed the Sugar Ray Robinson-Joey Maxim light heavyweight title fight on June 25, 1952. The bout was held outdoors at famed Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. Robinson, the reigning middleweight king, was seeking to wrest Maxim's light heavyweight crown. Temperature at ringside measured a blistering 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), and it was even hotter in the ring under the lights.

A preview of the fight's ending occurred when Goldstein collapsed from the heat after the 10th round, and could not finish refereeing the remainder of the match. Another referee, Ray Miller, was rushed into service so that the fight could be concluded. In the 13th round, Robinson began wavering, and staggered around the ring on unsteady, wobbly legs. Overcome by the heat, he could not answer the bell for the 14th round, resulting in a 14th round TKO for Maxim. Robinson, who was ahead in the scoring, was thus deprived of an opportunity to win a world title in a third division. When asked if Maxim got lucky when Robinson collapsed from the heat, his colorful manager, Jack "Doc" Kearns, replied: "It was just as hot for Maxim in there as it was for Robinson." Robinson commented: "I lasted longer than Goldstein, and nobody was hitting him."

Goldstein also refereed the first Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson world heavyweight championship fight. In the third round Johansson floored Patterson, who arose but appeared out on his feet. Goldstein was criticized for not immediately stopping the match and allowing Johansson to knock Patterson down six more times before ultimately awarding the bout to Johansson.

Goldstein served as a referee for 21 years, and was the "third man in the ring" for 39 world title fights.

The biggest controversy involving Goldstein as a referee occurred in 1962 when he refereed the Benny "Kid" Paret-Emile Griffith world welterweight championship fight. In that nationally televised encounter, Griffith pinned Paret in a corner in the 12th round and delivered a barrage of unanswered punches to the head of the seemingly helpless Paret as Goldstein looked on. When Goldstein finally did intervene, Paret slumped to the canvas, unconscious. He died 10 days later from the injuries he suffered in that bout. Goldstein never refereed another fight. Some have said the reason Goldstein was ineffective in the fight was that he was recovering from a recent heart attack. Ironically, before the fatal bout, Goldstein had been regarded by many as the finest referee in boxing. His son Herb pointed out that he had often been criticized for stopping other fights too early.

In 1959, Funk & Wagnalls published his memoirs, titled Third Man In The Ring, as told to sports writer Frank Graham.