CANASTOTA, NY – MAY 12, 2019 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of boxing judge Harold Lederman, who passed away yesterday (May 11) in New City, NY following a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

“Harold Lederman was one of boxing’s standout judges and, as HBO’s “unofficial” judge, became a fan favorite and one of the most beloved members of the boxing community,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy.  “Everyone at the Hall of Fame remembers his lifelong dedication to boxing. We join the boxing community in mourning his passing and offer our condolences to his family.”

Born January 26, 1940, Lederman began judging amateur bouts to gain experience and was granted a professional judge’s license from the New York State Athletic Commission in 1967. Over the next three decades Lederman would judge over 100 championship bouts around the world, including Emile Griffith vs. Dick Tiger II, Ken Buchanan vs. Ismael Laguna II, 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. From 1986-2018, he was a member of HBO World Championship Boxing’s broadcast team as their “unofficial” judge.

In 2016, Lederman was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.