Father & Son Induction Awards THIS Saturday!
The “Third Man” in the ring can often be the toughest job in boxing.
As a referee, it can be a thankless job. Watching over the boxers’ safety, making the correct calls, working with the judges and timekeeper, one must be on their toes every second of each round. You’re never noticed…until the fans balk at decisions not to their liking. It’s a pressure cooker job not many would want. But for veteran referee–and boxing judge–Raul Caiz Sr., this has been his job and passion for over 30 years.
He’s been in the ring with countless champions and superstars in the fight game. The busy official has been working as a California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) official dating back to the early ’80s. While it would be remarkable to have such a successful and steady career in boxing, what’s even more remarkable would be to have your son follow in your footsteps. Caiz Sr.’s son Raul Caiz Jr. is also a professional boxing referee and judge AND Senior’s two other children, Sergio Caiz and Carla Caiz are also working officials (as judges).
On Saturday, October 22, Caiz Sr. and Jr. will both be inducted into the 2016 California Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF). President and founder Don Fraser has chosen this father-son duo to be one of this year’s inductees headed into the hall. The ceremonies will take place at the famed Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City. During the awards show, there will be 21 living inductees (Gennady Golovkin, Robert Guerrero, Mauricio Herrera, Layla McCarter, Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez and more) plus eight posthumous honorees. There will also be a special tribute to Muhammad Ali at the gathering.
I caught up with Raul Caiz Sr. this week as his 2016 HOF induction nears. In this exclusive interview, the San Gabriel Valley ref shares his thoughts with me about his career and his three kids’ careers as well. The West Covina resident has long been a fixture ringside. I’ve seen him at many shows through the years. He has officiated in countless bouts worldwide. In fact, BoxRec lists a whopping 18 pages of past fights that Caiz Sr. has worked in dating back to 1986!
It has been a labor of love for Raul, who continues staying busy in the sweet science. He also worked in banking for over 30 years, but it is his position as a CSAC official that continues on to this day.
“I really treasure my opportunity to be an official,” Caiz Sr. tells me. “It’s been an amazing story. Saturday will be a nice time with my family; my wife Ede and kids all love the sport too.”
The Caiz family will all be at this weekend’s awards show. Caiz Jr. will fly back early from Puerto Rico (where he’s attending the WBO Convention) to take the stage alongside his proud pops.
“This is an honor,” the Caiz patriarch says. “I’m very happy and proud of this honor that has been bestowed on me and Junior.”
Boxing has been in the Caiz family’s bloodline for several generations now.
“I used to watch Gillette’s ‘Cavalcade of Sports’ on Friday nights,” Raul reminisces. “It was a tradition when I was a kid. And the rest is history…”
His love of boxing transitioned into become a CSAC official and then as his children grew up, one by one they also became working officials. But Raul makes it clear that this was something that was never pushed on them.
“Once I got into the sport, the kids would watch the fights with me,” he states.
“Around the age of 5, they would each sit there with their little scorecards watching the fights with me,” Senior laughs. “And when they were about 12, they would ask when they could become an official and get their license. It was nothing forced upon them; the bottom line is that we all fell in love with the sport.”
And it is truly remarkable that this father, his two sons and daughter are all boxing officials often seen working ringside.
Team Caiz recently made history with the rare standing of being the first family to officiate a world championship fight all at the same time. At a WBC fight in Mexico, the family made the legendary Guinness Book of World Records for this unique accomplishment. Between the four of them, they have officiated in almost 300 CHAMPIONSHIP fights. Quite an accomplishment. Boxing is known as being a male-dominated sport, a known “old boys” brotherhood with its politics, so for Raul’s youngest child Carla Caiz joining the ranks as a CSAC official makes this Guinness award even sweeter.
On Saturday, the Caiz squad will celebrate a brand new honor with Senior and Junior’s California Boxing Hall of Fame induction.
The duo has worked in many, many fights in the Southland. “My first 10-rounder was at the Forum in Inglewood,” the self-describled “old school” official recalls. He has seen an endless stream of champions and Hall of Famers in the ring having refereed in some of the epic matches through the decades.
“I worked the Holyfield fight in Russia; the Hamed fight in Sheffield, England,” Caiz replies when I ask him about past marquee matchups. “I’ve also worked in fights with Mayweather, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Jr., De La Hoya, Juan Manuel and Rafael Marquez and so many more.”
He has since literally traveled the globe working in boxing. “I’ve traveled all over the world and have worked on every continent,” an appreciative Caiz Sr. adds. “And Junior and I worked fights in Japan together.” The Caiz team works all across the U.S. and internationally but you can also see them at local club fights in and around Los Angeles. Their love of pugilism remains strong. And they take their job very seriously. They are known to be very professional, humble and quiet outside the ring.
“Our job is to be ‘neutral’ and to adopt the philosophy of always being professional,” Raul explains during our phone chat. “We’re not seeking the limelight as officials; we stay focused and ready. Whether you’re a referee or a judge, the boxer’s health and career is our top concern.”
“If someone would’ve told me 20 years ago that my kids and I would all be officials, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Caiz Sr. says with a chuckle. “But it’s happened and I’m very proud of my kids.”
And once again, the family will make history.
On October 22, Raul Caiz Sr. and his oldest son, Raul Caiz Jr. will step onto the stage to accept their 2016 California Boxing Hall of Fame award as their proud family watches on.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2016 CBHOF INDUCTEES!
Ticket info: 818-761-4887
Photos by Michele Chong and Marlene Marquez (ring photo)