Referee Tony Perez Dies at 90, Man in Middle of Luis Resto-Billy Collins Jr. Controversy

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 Barnegat, NJ (December 23rd, 2021)– Five decades boxing referee Anibal “Tony” Perez, of Barnegat Township, New Jersey, who between 1968 and 2005 remained one of the best referees in the world, died on December 14, 2021 at age 90. His wife Barbara is a former boxing judge who judged 49 world championship bouts.

Perez refereed many title and nontitle bouts involving, present, future and former world champions and contenders, including such famous names as Muhammad Ali, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, Alexis Arguello, Roberto Duran, Salvador Sanchez, Oleg Maskaev, Kermit Cintron, Chris Byrd, Terry Norris, Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Ken Norton, Carlos Monzon, Salvador Sanchez, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., and David Tua.

Other famous names refereed by Perez included the late Hector “Macho” Camacho, the late Arturo Gatti, Frank Bruno, Corrie Sanders, Kevin Kelley, Gerald McClellan, Nigel Benn, Tony Tucker, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Bobby Czyz, Buddy McGirt, Vinny Paz, Livingston Bramble, Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, Virgil Hill, Marlon Starling, Mark Breland, and many more.

However, on the undercard of Davey Moore versus Roberto Duran at Madison Square Garden, it was after a June 16, 1983 bout between Irish Billy Collins Jr. and Luis Resto refereed by Perez the face of professional boxing was forever changed. It was discovered after the bout the padding in the gloves in Resto had been tampered with, and his hand tape mixed with plaster of Paris, leading to the 10 round decision win by Resto to be changed to a No Contest, with Resto and trainer Panama Lewis to serve jail sentences and to be banned from boxing for life. Collins Jr., who incurred a torn iris and blurred vision for the rest of his life, drove his car into a culvert intoxicated and died on March 6, 1984. Panama Lewis died in 2020 at age 75. Resto, age 66, regained a boxing corner license in New York State 15 years after his being banned from boxing.




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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].