Patrick Russell, a native Californian, has been an amateur and professional boxing official for more than thirty years. His long and successful officiating career began in 1979, when he refereed over 20 bouts after sustaining an injury during a competition, renewing his love affair with boxing. Two years later, he was licensed as a referee/judge with the California State Athletic Commission.
During his early professional boxing officiating career, he officiated at many local and state venues. After a long apprenticeship, he refereed his first national title fight, and in 1991, his first international title fight. During the succeeding years, Russell has refereed or judged more than 90 title fights. Some of the highlighted bouts include De La Hoya-Mosley I, Lewis-Klitscho,Toney-Littles, Larios-Vasquez, Barrera-McKinney and dozens of other title fights.
Pat has officiated hundreds of fights throughout the world and was chosen to be a referee for all three seasons of “The Contender” reality boxing series. He also played a referee in the movie “Ali,” and was honored as referee of the year from 2008-2010. In 2010 he was elected to the California Boxing Hall of Fame.
He was elected as president of the California Referee’s Association in the mid 1990’s and served for several years in that position. He is also a board member of the Community Youth Athletic Center in National City, CA. Professionally, Pat spent over 30 years as a law enforcement officer and retired as a Supervising Criminal Investigator for the District Attorney’s Office in San Diego, CA.