Goodbye, Lou Filippo
Posted: 03 Nov 2009, 12:26
From his Wiki page:
* Attended John C. Fremont High School in south Los Angeles
* Began boxing at the 97th Street Arena and became one of California's top amateur boxers of the 1940s
* Joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, became a Pharmacist Mate, 2nd Class (medic), and served aboard the USS ''South Dakota''
* Won the South Pacific All-Services 125-pound title in 1944 at Guadacanal, South Pacific; as well as the 1945 Naval Base 125-pound Championship (his team-mate was Joey DeJohn)
* After his discharge from the Navy, he won the US Diamond Belt (lightweight division)
* Had more than 250 amateur bouts before embarking on a professional career
* Named ''Action Fighter of the Year'' in Los Angeles (1957)
* Manager and trainer (trained World Champion Don Jordan for a couple of fights)
* Went into refereeing in 1973 at the suggestion of Olympic Auditorium promoter Aileen Eaton
* Officiated over 85 championship bouts
* Appeared as either a referee or announcer in every "Rocky" movie, starring Sylvester Stallone.
* Spent 43 years with Thermo-Electron, Cal Duran Division
* Was an executive with the World Boxing Hall of Fame in California (from circa 1983-2005)
* Served two terms as President of the WBHOF
* Husband of Pat; father of Debbie and Patty
* Currently (2005) remains an active boxing judge and referee
* Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, "Expanded Category" (Referees & Judges & Timekeepers)
* Inducted into the John C. Fremont Hall of Fame
* 2005 Inductee into the California Boxing Hall of Fame
