The Pearl File
Born: June 5, 1917
Claim to Fame: Refereed more than 3,000 boxing matches including 70 world championship bouts; member of the World Boxing Association Hall of Fame.
Davey Pearl stood just 5-foot-5 and weighed 145 pounds, but he stood between some real heavyweights in his life.
Pearl, who migrated to Las Vegas from New York in 1947, is one of the most famous fight referees of all time. Throughout his career, Pearl refereed more than 3,000 boxing matches including an estimated 70 world championship bouts. His most famous fight was the 1981 match-up between Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Later in his career, Pearl developed a close friendship with legendary UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and became the Runnin’ Rebels unofficial mascot during its run to the 1977 Final Four in Atlanta.
He passed away in 2006.
