BERNIE PROFATO ; Executive Director Of The Ohio Athletic Commission
Sal Marino (Edited by Jim Amato) - 8/9/06
Bernie Profato is from Niles, Ohio ( near Youngstown ). He is the
current Executive Director of the Ohio Athletic Commission. Bernie has a six
letter word for his passion. That is B-O-X-I-N-G ! A former successful
amateur boxer with a respectable 54-6-1 record, after his amateur career
ended he never wavered from the fight game.
Profato was recently inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers And
Associates Hall Of Fame. Profato's boxing career started in 1961 He won the
1962 Golden Glove title at welterweight. He won the 1967 title as a light
heavyweight. In 1969 he went for his third title but lost to the noted and
one of the best local and national boxers from this area, Earnie Shavers.
He also met some other local tough guys like Mike Boswell, John
Giroski, James Kitchen, Bill Maroney and Phil Rogers. Bernie was a crowd
pleaser with a good punch.He started his career under Johnny Marino and
later with Mike Birskovich and Tony Maiorana.
Profato became a solid and respectable referee. That career lasted for
eighteen years. As the third man in the ring he presided over fights that
featured Ray " Boom Boom " Mancini, Harry Arroyo, Greg Page, Azumah Nelson,
Hector Camacho, Sugar Ray Leonard, Charlie " White Lightning " Brown and
Bonecrusher Smith.
One of the highlights of Bernie's career was being asked to be the
first American to referee a bout in the Republic Of China. Bernie said "
That had to be one of the biggest honors I've ever received ". The astute
Teddy Atlas described Bernie as one of the best " no nonsense " referees.
Bernie Profato has also refereed football and umpired baseball at the
high school and college levels. He's done it all. He is also a member of the
Trumbull County Legends Of Leather Hall Of Fame and the Curbstone Coaches
Hall Of Fame.
Now as the Director for the Ohio Athletic Commission, Profato has
again dedicated himself to the best interest of the fight game in Ohio.
NOTE: The author Sal Marino is the President and co-founder of the
Trumbull County ( Ohio ) Legends Of Leather. Sal is an accomplished writer
with his own newspaper column and radio talk show. He received three awards
at the recent Ohio State Former Boxers And Associates banquet for his
contributions to boxing.
