Steele returns
Posted: 16 Aug 2004, 14:43
seconds out
Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele has announced that he will return to the ring as an official after nearly three-and-a-half years of retirement.
Steele, one of the best and most respected referees of the modern era, stunned boxing back in January 2001 when he announced the Floyd Mayweather v Diego Corrales WBC super-featherweight title fight would be his last.
However, after trying promoting and matchmaking, the 60-year-old says he misses being close to the action and will be back shortly.
He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "I came to realize I was too young and that I'm a good referee and I can still do it well. I came to the realization that I want to be in boxing for the rest of my life, but at this point of my life I belong as a referee."
Steele handled 167 championship fights in 30 years as a ref, including the Alexis Arguello v Aaron Pryor, 1987's Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvelous Marvin Hagler and, of course, the 1990 Julio Cesar Chavez-Meldrick Taylor fight where Steele waved the fight off with less than three seconds remaining.
Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele has announced that he will return to the ring as an official after nearly three-and-a-half years of retirement.
Steele, one of the best and most respected referees of the modern era, stunned boxing back in January 2001 when he announced the Floyd Mayweather v Diego Corrales WBC super-featherweight title fight would be his last.
However, after trying promoting and matchmaking, the 60-year-old says he misses being close to the action and will be back shortly.
He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "I came to realize I was too young and that I'm a good referee and I can still do it well. I came to the realization that I want to be in boxing for the rest of my life, but at this point of my life I belong as a referee."
Steele handled 167 championship fights in 30 years as a ref, including the Alexis Arguello v Aaron Pryor, 1987's Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvelous Marvin Hagler and, of course, the 1990 Julio Cesar Chavez-Meldrick Taylor fight where Steele waved the fight off with less than three seconds remaining.
