{{short description|American boxing referee (1943–2022)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Steve Smoger | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|8|15}} | birth_place = Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|12|19|1943|08|15}} | death_place = Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | occupation = Boxing and kickboxing referee, Municipal Court judge | other_names = Double S | credits = | website = }}
'''Steve Smoger''' (August 15, 1943 – December 19, 2022)<ref>[https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/steve-smoger-hall-fame-referee-passes-away-72 Steve Smoger, Hall of Fame Referee, Passes Away at 79]</ref> was an American boxing referee from Atlantic City, New Jersey. He refereed more than 200 title bouts, and was one of the more well-traveled of his profession, holding the distinction of officiating in more states and countries than any other boxing referee in the history of the sport.<ref name="FitzgeraldMorley2014">{{cite book|last1=Fitzgerald|first1=Mike|last2=Morley|first2=Patrick|title=Third Man in the Ring: 33 of Boxing's Best Referees and Their Stories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wu7jhLWM9wC&pg=PT124|accessdate=June 19, 2017|date=June 19, 2014|publisher=Potomac Books, Inc.|isbn=9781612342429|pages=124–}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightmag.com.au/2017/03/24/boxing-ref-steve-smoger-fightbox-podcast/|title=Steve Smoger: Refereeing Is Boxing Without The Pain|publisher=Fightmag|author=Don Roid|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Boxing HOF Class of 2015 Welcomes Four More | url = http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/boxing-hof-class-of-2015-welcomes-four-more/ | website = Sports Collectors Digest | date = July 21, 2015 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
Smoger also officiated kickboxing matches.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger - WKN International Kickboxing Referee | url = http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/official/steve-smoger/ | website = World Kickboxing Network | date = August 3, 2017 | access-date = }}</ref>
==Background== Raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Smoger graduated from Atlantic City High School. He attended Pennsylvania State University and the George Washington University Law School.<ref>[https://phillyjewishsports.org/2014/05/steve-smoger/ Steve Smoger], Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Accessed December 19, 2022. "Out of the ring, Smoger, a graduate of Atlantic City High School and Penn State University, was awarded his Juris Doctor from George Washington University."</ref>
Appointed in 1980, Smoger was the first full-time city prosecutor in the history of Atlantic City, serving in that position until 1992, when he was appointed to the bench of the Atlantic County Municipal Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/13/nyregion/worth-noting-municipal-court-judge-goes-down-for-the-count.html|title=WORTH NOTING; Municipal Court Judge Goes Down for the Count|last=Fitzgerald|first=Barbara|date=January 13, 2002|work=New York Times|accessdate=June 19, 2017}}</ref>
From 2002 to 2005, Smoger held the position of City Solicitor of Atlantic City. In 2005, he entered the private practice of law.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger - Bigger's Better Boxing | url = http://www.biggersbetterboxing.com/?page_id=8497 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170803172243/http://www.biggersbetterboxing.com/?page_id=8497 | url-status = usurped | archive-date = August 3, 2017 | website = Bigger's Better Boxing | date = | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
Smoger served as a member of the New Jersey Air National Guard and the United States Air Force Reserve. He held the position of Staff Judge Advocate and obtained the rank of colonel. He retired after 30 years of service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ringtv.com/391445-ibhof-inductee-steve-smoger-has-seen-the-world/|title=IBHOF inductee Steve Smoger has seen the world thanks to boxing|publisher=The Ring|accessdate=June 19, 2017}}</ref>
On September 23, 1982, in New Jersey Smoger was first licensed as a professional boxing referee by then Commissioner Jersey Joe Walcott. The happening marked the 30th Anniversary of Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the World held on September 23, 1952, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame | url = http://www.njboxinghof.org/steve-smoger/ | website = New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame | date = November 13, 1997 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
In August 2017, he was appointed the IBA Boxing Officials Committee co-chair.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger appointed IBA Boxing officials committee co-chair | url = http://www.fightmag.com.au/2017/08/21/steve-smoger-iba-boxing-officials-committee/ | website = Fightmag | last = Iskenderov | first = Parviz | author-link = Parviz Iskenderov | date = August 21, 2017 | access-date = August 21, 2017}}</ref>
==Achievements== Smoger is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame – Class of 1997. In 2001, he was designated the World's Best Professional Boxing Referee by ''The Ring'' magazine.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} In 2010, he was recognized by the World Boxing Association as Referee of the Year. In 2013 he was recognized by the International Boxing Association as the Referee of the Year.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger biography | url = http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Human:401025 | website = Boxrec | date = | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
Smoger is also a member of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame – Class of 2013,<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger - Philly Boxing History | url = http://www.phillyboxinghistory.com/more/pahof/inductees/inductee_smoger_steve.htm | website = Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame | date = | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref> as well as a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame - class of 2014.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger Philly Jewish Sports Hall of Fame | url = http://phillyjewishsports.org/2014/05/steve-smoger/ | website = Philly Jewish Sports Hall of Fame | date = | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
On June 14, 2015, Smoger received the highest honor in the sport of professional boxing when he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame, Class of 2015, in Canastota, New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/nonparticipant/smoger.html|title=Steve Smoger|publisher=International Boxing Hall of Fame|accessdate=June 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightmag.com.au/2015/06/19/steve-smoger-hall-of-fame-referee/|title=Steve Smoger Hall of Fame Referee|publisher=Fightmag|author=Parviz Iskenderov|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref>
On May 27, 2017, in Atlantic City, Smoger became the first professional boxing referee to be inducted into the newly created Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame, joining Don King and Michael Spinks among other inductees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/boxing/local-trainer-bill-johnson-popular-fighter-arturo-gatti-among-members/article_37df2e99-6455-5053-996f-2612417709a5.html|title=Local trainer Bill Johnson, popular fighter Arturo Gatti among members of new Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame|publisher=Press of Atlantic City|author=David Weinberg|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philasun.com/sports/atlantic-city-boxing-hall-fame-inducts-first-class-boxing-legends/|title=Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame inducts its first class of boxing legends|publisher=The Philadelphia Sunday|author=Chris Murray|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Atlantic City Hall of Fame Kicks Off With A Big Bang | url = https://www.ringtv.com/501627-atlantic-city-boxing-hall-fame-kicks-off-big-bang/ | website = Ring TV | date = May 28, 2017 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
==Notable fights== {{External links|date=July 2022|section}} Smoger officiated the bouts featuring such professional boxers as Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Ray Mercer, Steve Cunningham, John Ruiz, Roberto Durán, Hector Camacho, Roy Jones Jr., James Toney, Mike McCallum, Vinny Pazienza, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marcos Maidana, Félix Trinidad, Micky Ward, Arturo Gatti, Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Vernon Forrest, Diego Corrales, Kelly Pavlik, Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Denis Lebedev, Bernard Hopkins, Lucia Rijker, Christy Martin, as well as a host of Philadelphia fighters including Gabe Rosado, Danny García, among others.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}
'''The list of notable bouts Smoger officiated includes:'''
*Shane Mosley vs. Vernon Forrest I [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Vernon_Forrest_vs._Shane_Mosley_%281st_meeting%29] *Bernard Hopkins vs. Félix Trinidad [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Bernard_Hopkins_vs._Felix_Trinidad] *Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik I [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:1216171] *Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins [http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/Roy_Jones_Jr_vs._Bernard_Hopkins] *Micky Ward vs. Emanuel Burton I [http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Micky_Ward_vs._Emanuel_Burton] - 2001 ''Ring'' magazine Fight of the Year. *Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch [http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Andre_Ward_vs._Carl_Froch] - Super Six World Boxing Classic Final. *Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II
==Officiating Kickboxing== In 2014, the World Kickboxing Network recognized Smoger as a qualified referee in kickboxing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldkickboxingnetwork.com/2014/11/06/biggers-better-steve-smoger-qualified-kickboxing-referee/|title=Steve Smoger Qualified Kickboxing Referee|publisher=WKN|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightmag.com.au/2014/11/08/steve-smoger-becomes-kickboxing-referee/|title=Steve Smoger: I Am Honored That WKN Has Chosen Me|publisher=Fightmag|author=Parviz Iskenderov|accessdate=June 20, 2017}}</ref> On November 14, 2014, he made his debut at kickboxing tournament Girl Power held live on Pay-Per-View in Liepaja, Latvia.<ref>{{cite web | title = Throwback: Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger makes kickboxing debut | url = http://www.fightmag.com.au/2017/06/15/steve-smoger-makes-kickboxing-debut/ | website = Fightmag | last = Iskenderov | first = Parviz | author-link = Parviz Iskenderov | date = June 15, 2017 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
On March 10, 2017, Smoger was expected to officiate the first kickboxing World Cup held in Tehran, Iran.<ref>{{cite web | title = Steve Smoger Officiates WKN Kickboxing World Cup | url = http://www.fightmag.com.au/2016/11/07/steve-smoger-officiates-world-cup/ | website = Fightmag | date = November 7, 2016 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
From February 10, 2017, he officiated the bouts at the women's kickboxing series Girl Power live on SFR Sport 5.<ref>{{cite web | title = Girl Power Kickboxing | url = http://www.girlpowerkickboxing.com | website = Girl Power Kickboxing | date = | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref>
==Television appearances== Smoger appeared on numerous television shows and networks including ESPN's ''Friday Night Fights'', Bigger's Better Boxing on Eurosport, HBO's ''Boxing After Dark'', ESPN ''Top Rank Boxing'', ''Tuesday Night Fights'', among others.
In 2015, Smoger served as official Rules Consultant for the Premier Boxing Champions Program on NBC.<ref>{{cite web | title = IBHOF Referee Steve Smoger on the Top of the Score | url = http://www.fightmag.com.au/2016/03/05/ibhof-referee-steve-smoger-on-the-top-of-the-score/ | last = Iskenderov | first = Parviz | author-link = Parviz Iskenderov | website = Fightmag | date = March 5, 2016 | access-date = August 3, 2017}}</ref> The same year he has also appeared in ''Ali: Icon, Activist, Fighter'' documentary short dedicated to Muhammad Ali.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{BoxRec | 401025 }} *{{Twitter | SteveSmoger }} *{{IMDb name | 3882338 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smoger, Steve}} Category:1950 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Boxing referees Category:American boxing referees Category:Atlantic City High School alumni Category:George Washington University Law School alumni Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni Category:People from Norfolk, Virginia Category:People from Atlantic City, New Jersey Category:New Jersey National Guard personnel Category:New Jersey state court judges