International Boxing Hall Of Fame

Born January 26, 1940. Lederman developed a passion for the sweet science as a child when his father took him to matches at Long Beach Stadium and other New York fight venues where he saw such fighters as Sandy Saddler and Roland LaStarza.

 

In 1965 he began judging amateur bouts to gain experience and in 1967 was granted a professional judge’s license from the New York State Athletic Commission. Over the next three decades Lederman would judge over 100 championship bouts around the world. Among the notable fights he officiated include Emile Griffith vs. Dick Tiger II, Ken Buchanan vs. Ismael Laguna II, Roberto Duran vs. Esteban DeJesus I, Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III, Roberto Duran vs. Carlos Palomino, Eusebio Pedroza vs. Rocky Lockridge I, Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes I and Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Qawi I.

 

In 1986 he joined HBO World Championship Boxing’s broadcast team as an “unofficial” judge and remains in that capacity today. Lederman retired as an active judge in 1999 to focus on his HBO duties full time.