Billy Roche

Name: Billy Roche
Alias: Roach
Birth Name: William J. Roche
Hometown: Colma, California, USA
Birthplace: New York, USA
Died: 1955-06-17 (Age:86)
Referee: Record

Billy Roche was a long-time boxing referee whose career spanned from 1897 to 1930. He officiated many world title bouts.

Born in New York, he began as a manager of some well-known boxers, such as:

• Jack Bonner
• Tim Callahan
• Eddie Connolly
• Jack Everhardt
• George McFadden
• Dan Murphy
• Mike Sears
• Mysterious Billy Smith

He turned to refereeing while in New York before moving to California in the early 1900s. By the end of his career he had moved back to New York. He died in 1955 at age 86 or 87. Obituary: [1]

• Stanley Ketchel vs. Billy Papke (4th meeting) Video: [2]
• Articles written by Billy Roche (reprinted in IBRO Journal No. 80. [3]