By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
Back when I was a kid in the fifties, I came across a magazine called The Referee that was either at my father’s barber shop or at the newsstands nearby.
It was in 1961 that I would start to obtain these magazines to educate myself with boxing and wrestling. It was mainly a west coast publication that was published to serve as a fight program with updates for the upcoming various events. It was available at fight venues as well as news-stands.
Although, I do not have every issue, the issues I have are certainly treasured collectables.
One of my favorite writers was a journalist from the Bay Area, Bryon “Speed” Reilly.
Although, Reilly’s expertise was actually baseball, he covered boxing with such truth and credibility that I consider him a pioneer that few today have ever heard of, let alone read any of his work.
Here’s is one of his pieces – dated February 1, 1964 – from The Referee Magazine (page 4) Volume 60 / #3 edition.
I really enjoyed this one David. I have not encountered this magazine during my many visits to card shows at the IBHOF. What a rare treat.
I enjoyed your write up on Referee Magazine. I ran across your blog post searching to see if this magazine also served as a fight program since I just picked one up on eBay from the Sugar Ray Robinson/Bobo Olson title fight in San Francisco back in March 1952. As a life-long resident of the Bay Area I have a couple of issues in my sports memorabilia collection. Keep up the great work!