Boxing referee and judge

Born: February 7, 1929;

Died: June 8, 2015.

Frank Cappuccino, who has died aged 85, was an internationally renowned pro boxing referee and judge who officiated at some of world boxing's most iconic title fights between 1958 and 2008.

During an illustrious half century of acting as third man in the ring and a judge outwith the ropes, he refereed 93 world title fights including some involving Lennox Lewis, Marvin Hagler, and Mike Tyson (whose fights he presided over eight times).

He was particularly popular as a referee in his ancestral homeland of Italy where he officiated eight times; his Italian-American links also earned him a part as a boxing referee in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky V in 1990.

Frank Cappuccino was born into a family who were proud both of their Italian origins and boxing ability (his brother Vic also boxed to a high level). He excelled in 130 amateur bouts followed by a short but successful pro career as a featherweight. He then quit the ring in 1949 to concentrate on a business career before obtaining his first referee's licence in 1958.

From the beginning, Cappuccino was determined to make good as a ring official so understudied the likes of Zack Clayton, who famously handled the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974 between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Another great influence on Cappuccino was Ruby Goldstein who presided over many world title fights.

While officiating at major title bouts all over the world, Cappuccino evolved a distinctive laissez-faire style and rarely, if ever, touched the contestants, even when he called for them to break from clinches. Indeed, he became famous on televised bouts for his unique exhortation just before the opening bell to both boxers: ''Now touch gloves - I leave (the fight) with you...''

There were critics of his non-interventionist approach but his supporters could point to the fact that Cappuccino officiated at several of the toughest and most brutal world title fights without post-ring mishap. Championship contests like the first of the epic trilogy involving Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti, a scrap voted the Third Greatest Fight of all Time by an American boxing magazine.

Equally, when Cappuccino officiated at the brief but brutal execution of defending world heavyweight champion Michael Spinks in 1985 in Atlantic City by challenger Mike Tyson in just 81 seconds, Spinks made a full recovery post-bout.

This record helps explain why Cappuccino was held in such respect - a respect earned by the knowledge among boxing insiders that back in the late 1950s, when American boxing was run by Phildelphia Mafia figures, Cappuccino had refused a bribe to fix a fight despite threats.

Having attained his 50th year as a referee in 2008, Cappuccino was forced to retire after a knee replacement operation restricted his mobility.

He was elected to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Halls of Boxing Fame in recognition of his sterling service to American and world boxing, and is survived by his wife Florence.

BRIAN DONALD