It is February 20th, 1995, the world’s eyes are set on El Estadio Azteca, Mexico’s largest sports stadium. Inside the facility, in front of an estimated 130,000 people, Mexican legend, Julio César Chávez, is defending his WBC super-light weight title against the American, Greg Haugen. In front of his countrymen, Chávez is punishing Haugen, who disrespected him years earlier in Las Vegas. During the 5th round, Haugen is barely able to stand on his feet, as the record breaking crowd calls for him to be knocked out. Chávez continues to land a barrage of punches, until finally the third man in the ring that night decides to step in to put an end to it. The stadium erupts with cheers for El León de Culiacán. The history books remembers this fight as the largest outdoor fight in the history of the sport. Casual boxing fans will always remember Chávez and Haugen battling it out in the heart of Mexico, but a third man stood in the ring that night: Joe Cortez. Cortez was born to Puerto Rican parents in Spanish Harlem, New York City. Boxing was always a part of this Hall of Fame referee’s life. Cortez won multiple Golden Glove tournaments as an amateur boxer and had a successful, but short career as a professional boxer. Outside of boxing, Cortez also found success as military man, deli owner, hotel manager, and director of an ophthalmologist outreach program. Eventually, he would find himself back in the boxing ring, this time as a referee. His career as a referee took Cortez to the top of the boxing world. When he retired in 2012, Cortez officiated 176 World Championship Fights. In 2011, Cortez was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside, Mike Tyson, Julio César Chávez, Kostya Tszyu, Ignacio Beristain, and Sylvester Stallone.

Commencement program from University of Nevada, Las Vegas Commencement Programs and Graduation Lists (UA-00115).