Referee Ruby Goldstein, The Jewel of the Ghetto’s Two Best Sparkling Moments
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
From Madison Square Garden to the Polo Grounds, Ruby Goldstein, nicknamed ‘The Jewel of the Ghetto’, was New York’s most famous boxing referee. For 20 years, his was the face of boxing itself. Ruby Goldstein, the famed ‘Man in the Middle’ is largely forgotten now. His historical significance is timeless, and remains important to understand in the context of his rise and fall. This article covers the history of Goldstein’s more significant bouts of the 150 bouts BoxRec states Goldstein refereed.
Goldstein’s first appearance in the middle was on July 16, 1942, at Fort Hamilton Arena in Brooklyn, New York, when he refereed Jerry Fiorello and Francesco Montanari in an eight round light middleweight bout during World War II. Even at the beginning, the effects of boxing would be complex for Goldstein in his refereeing career. Less than three weeks later, Montanari fought and won his last pro bout at the New York Coliseum and retired. Nobody knows what happened to him. In September 1947, Fiorello and his mistress were found dead in his Red Hook Brooklyn apartment by his wife, Ida Fiorello, in what appeared to be a double suicide pact. Whether blows to the head had anything to do with it remains a mystery.
The opening years of Goldstein’s refereeing career had no title bouts, but many famous names. Among those names Goldstein refereed were: Rocky Graziano, Sandy Saddler, Jake LaMotta, Tippy Larkin, Beau Jack, Johnny Greco, and Tony Janiro. Bob Montgomery versus Allie Stolz was Goldstein’s first world title fight, the New York State Athletic Commission’s version of the World Lightweight title, held at Madison Square Garden on June 28, 1946. One month later, Goldstein was at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, refereeing the NYSAC and NBA World Middleweight title bout between Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano on September 27, 1946.
For historical reference, it must be understood the New York State Athletic Commission issued its own versions of world boxing titles back in the day when it was the predominant force in all of boxing, along with the National Boxing Association.
Names refereed by Ruby Goldstein afterwards included: Lulu Constantino, Marcel Cerdan, Tippy Larkin, Sugar Ray Robinson, Billy Fox, Paddy DeMarco, Lee Savold, Ike Williams, Kid Gavilan, Ezzard Charles, Willie Pep, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rex Layne, and Johnny Bratton. Goldstein was back at Yanke Stadium, refereeing the World Heavyweight Championship bout between Ezzard Charles and Gus Lesnevich, August 10, 1949. Lesnevich, a former World Light Heavyweight champion, did not answer the bell for the eighth round against Charles, and retired after the loss.
As Goldstein refereed his way through the 1950’s in New York, several of his bouts had great historical significance. One was Rocky Marciano’s eighth round knockout of Joe Louis at Madison Square Garden on October 26, 1951. Louis, who owed back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service for purses he gave to U.S. Army relief during World War II, wanted the bout for the money and got it, but he was far from his former self when Goldstein stopped the contest. Rocky cried after the bout, but the bout was entirely Louis’ idea. ‘The Brown Bomber’ never fought again.
On July 12, 1951, Sugar Ray Robinson regained the World Middleweight title with a tenth round stoppage of Randy Turpin at the Polo Grounds. This was Goldstein’s second best sparkling performance, as it was a critical bout in the middleweight division Robinson had to win to redeem himself. It should be noted Goldstein was also scoring the bouts as well as refereeing. Years ago, the referee’s scorecard was one of the three ring scorecards.
Sugar Ray Robinson versus Randy Turpin II Highlights, Ruby Goldstein, Referee, 1951
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SIkpM63Zmw
On September 24, 1953, Goldstein refereed Rocky Marciano’s World Heavyweight title defense of Roland LaStarza on the Polo Grounds. The following year, on June 17, 1954, Goldstein refereed Rocky Marciano’s 15 round war with Ezzard Charles at Yankee Stadium. In historical context, this bout was Goldstein’s most important sparkling performance, as it was the only title bout involving Marciano which went the 15 round distance with a legitimate challenger.
Rocky Marciano versus Ezzard Charles Highlights, Ruby Goldstein, Referee, 1953
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqQOBa4bCV0
On August 11, 1954, Goldstein refereed Archie Moore’s World Light Heavyweight title defense against Harold Johnson. Goldstein was back at the Polo Grounds on June 22, 1956, refereeing Archie Moore’s third round knockout over Bobo Olson.
Goldstein was back at Madison Square Garden, refereeing Gene Fullmer’s 15 round World Middleweight title victory over Sugar Ray Robinson on January 2, 1957. Goldstein was back at the Polo Grounds, refereeing Floyd Patterson’s tenth round stoppage of Hurricane Tommy Jackson to retain the World Heavyweight title on July 29, 1957. The World Heavyweight title changed hands on June 26, 1959, as Ingemar Johansson stopped Floyd Patterson in three rounds at Yankee stadium, with Goldstein stopping the contest.
Goldstein refereed into the 1960’s, serving as the man in the middle for the New York State Athletic Commission’s first NYSAC New York State Lightweight title bout between Bobby Scanlon and Jackie Donnelly at Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York, on May 3, 1960. On February 18, 1961, Goldstein refereed World Middleweight champion Dick Tiger’s defense against Gene Armstrong at Madison Square Garden. Goldstein was back at the Garden on June 10, 1961, refereeing Archie Moore’s 15 round World Light Heavyweight title defense against Giulio Rinaldi. On November 18, 1961, Goldstein was back at the Garden, refereeing Lightweight Carlos Ortiz’ ten round decision win over Paolo Rosi. Goldstein returned to Madison Square Garden on February 10, 1962, refereeing Cassius Clay’s (Muhammad Ali) fourth round stoppage of Sonny Banks.
Goldstein’s fame-and career as a referee-ended on television’s early version of Friday Night Fights at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 1962. By the time Emile Griffith stopped Benny Kid Paret in the twelfth round on March 24, 1962, Paret was already in trouble long before that. Paret lost five of his last seven bouts involving five world title contests. The Damage Paret had takenin his bouts with Denny Moyer, Luis Federico Thompson, Gaspar Ortega, Gene Fullmer, and Emile Griffith twice and considerable, and to fight Griffith a third time was not prudent. Paret did not have another 15 rounder left in the tank. The money was there, the faculties were not. In an era before CAT scans and mandatory ambulances, the delay in getting Paret to the hospital must have been considerable.
The error was in the New York State Athletic Commission (which was aware of the numerous beating’s Paret had taken recent his final bout) sanctioning the third bout between Griffith and Paret. Before he died, Gil Clancy stated Paret’s final bout should never have been sanctioned. Goldstein had to referee a bout which should have, based on known facts, never have happened in the first place. When Paret went down for good, Goldstein summoned for help with the commission. Ten days later, Paret died. Probably Paret’s bout should have been stopped much earlier than it was.
Goldstein’s career as a referee died with Paret. 25 months later, Goldstein reappeared at Madison Square Garden, refereeing Luis Rodriguez’ ten round decision win over Holly Mims. It would be his final ring appearance. Goldstein wrote the book ‘Third Man in the Ring’ before he retired. Goldstein died on April 22, 1984, long forgotten by the boxing establishment, which blamed him for Benny Kid Paret’s death. The actual blame resided with Paret’s corner, who did not retire their fighter when they had time.
This was not Goldstein’s worst ring appearance. His worst night came at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 1952, when he was overcome by heat and had to be replaced by Ray Miller after the tenth round. The temperature had reached 103 degrees when Ray Robinson was unable to come out for the 15th and final round against Joey Maxim, who retained the World Light Heavyweight title.
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