Legendary Boxing Judge Tom Kaczmarek Honored In Brick, AC

BRICK, NJ — Legendary boxing judge Tom Kaczmarek has traveled all over the world. He's officiated some of the biggest boxing matches ever: Foreman-Holyfield. Leonard-Hearns II. He's been inducted to multiple Halls of Fame.

But one of his favorite moments? Receiving a proclamation and a key from the town he has called home for 32 years.

"People always ask me where I live," Kaczmarek said at the Brick Township Council meeting on June 25. "I live in Brick Township. Brick is a great place to raise your kids, a great place to live. Not every place is like Brick."

Kaczmarek was honored by township officials for being inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. That ceremony, on June 23, celebrated Kaczmarek's many accomplishments in his career as a judge. He was inducted along with Bernard Hopkins, Iran Barkley, Roberto Duran, and Henry Hascup.

Kaczmarek, better known as "Tommy Kaye," started out as an amateur boxer in 1946 and moved on to a brief professional career, where he compiled 11 wins, five losses and three draws from 1947 to 1949.

He was better known for his career as a boxing judge. Kaczmarek judged more than 1,500 professional bouts, including 110 world championship and 86 regional championship fights in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Australia before retiring in 2010.

Kaczmarek has judged many high-profile bouts including, Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns II, Lennox Lewis vs. Vitaly Klitschko, Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Roberto Duran vs. Iran Barkley, and George Foreman vs Evander Holyfield. Of the fights, 215 boxing shows he officiated were in Atlantic City including 19 world championship fights, including Duran-Barkley, Foreman-Holyfield and Arturo Gatti vs. Gianluca Branco. He retired from judging in 2010. He also wrote a book of guidelines for judging professional boxing. The book, "You Be The Judge," published in 1996, explains the strategies and mindsets needed to score boxing matches.

Kaczmarek was born in Elizabeth, and has been married to Agnes (Donovan) for 65 years. He served as the mayor of Clark in Union County from 1969-72.

Kaczmarek was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, and said the Atlantic City Hall selection was an honor that he was proud to share with "the outstanding people who have contributed so much to the sport of boxing" who were nominated with him.

The other members of the Class of 2019 were: Bernard Hopkins, Tim Witherspoon, Iran Barkley, Roberto Duran, Micky Ward, Kevin Watts, John Brown, Virgil Hill, Butch Lewis, English Bouie Fisher, Ace Marotta, Jimmy Binns, Sr., Stan Hoffman, Nigel Collins, Henry Hascup, Bob Goodman, Tony Orlando Jr., and Rhonda Utley-Herring.

He also received several other awards and honors, including appointment as chairman (and later honorary chairman) of the World Boxing Council Ring Officials Board, the Elizabeth Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, received the Rocky Marciano/AAIB Ring Officials Award. He received the C.O.M.B.A.T.T. Joe Cortez Officials Merit Award and was designated "Man of the Year"” NJ Boxing Hall of Fame.

Kaczmarek said Brick Township Mayor John Ducey attended the Hall of Fame ceremonies. But meeting his local town leaders was special.

"This is a great highlight in my career," Kaczmarek said.

That career and life have taught him one other thing: "no matter what life throws your way, you need to keep punching."

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