Richard Steele
Born: Jan. 26, 1944
Induction: 2014
Born January 26, 1944. Steele was a member of the Marine Corps boxing team from 1962-65 before turning professional in 1966. He hung up the gloves with a 12-4 (10 KOs) record in 1970 and switched from boxer to referee in 1972.
Steele began his career as a referee in California and officiated bouts involving Lupe Pintor, Hilario Zapata, Carlos Zarate, Wilfred Benitez and Larry Holmes before moving to Las Vegas in 1981. Among the legendary fights he was the third man in the ring for include Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello II (1983), Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns (1985), Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvelous Marvin Hagler (1987), Mike Tyson vs. Frank Bruno I (1989), Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns II (1989) and Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor (1990). With 167 championship bouts to his credit, Steele announced his retirement after working the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Diego Corrales bout in 2001. He returned to the ring in 2004 and refereed for two more years, including the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Zab Judah 2006 title bout.
Outside of the ring he remains active in boxing, operating the Richard Steele Boxing Club in Las Vegas.