World Renowned Boxing Judge Lynne Carter

By: Ken Hissner

Pennsylvania boxing judge Lynne Carter started judging in March of 1982 in Philadelphia and in September of 1982 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before becoming a world renowned boxing judge.

Carter has officiated some 739 bouts in those 36 years. She joined the IBF in November of 1983, at their Founding Convention, in Newark, New Jersey.

In 1984, Carter was honored by the Philadelphia Bar Association as a Woman Pioneer in Boxing. Recommended by the World Boxing Association.

“Lynne Carter has been my friend for a long, long time. I originally trained her in becoming a judge. She is a lovely woman and am proud how she leads her life. I wish her only the best,” said Carol Polis (United States first lady boxing judge)

In February of 1988 Carter judged her first world title fight for the International Boxing Federation featuring Greg Haugen and Vinny Pazienza in Atlantic City. In August of 1990 she worked a World Boxing Council title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Main event was Maurice Blocker and Marlon Starling.

“I have known Ms Carter for over 20 years. Always has a friendly greeting and I don’t think I have ever seen her unhappy. She is very passionate about the sport of boxing and from what I have seen in working corners all these years, is that she is very attentive to the fights she is judging and is very fair in her assessment of scoring every round. Lynne is an all-around classy lady,” said Joey Eye. (Top cut man)
In April of 1989 Carter judged the inaugural World Boxing Organization title bout between Doug DeWitt and Robbie Sims. In October of 1988 she judged her first title bout out of the US in Denmark with Greg Haugen and Gert Bo Jacobsen.

In February of 1984 Carter judged an IBF title fight in South Africa featuring Kennedy McKinney and Jose Rincones. In May of 1998 she judged in Italy in a World Boxing Union title fight. She has worked numerous WBU title fights.

“She emphasized everything that the integrity of a judge should be today. I’ve paid attention to her crafts and she knows what she is looking at and has covered some of the biggest fights world-wide,” said Elmer Smith (Philadelphia Sports writer for 25 years).

She became a judge for the NJ Athletic Commission. “Jersey” Joe was commissioner and he came back to the office the next day and said he saw this lady who looked good for a judge and he told her he would talk to me. We licensed her and she has done quite well. We started with smaller sites and she proved to be very good. Later when I was President of the IBF asked her to do a seminar for judges and she did the best presentation of anyone I have ever seen. She brought in video tapes of controversial one’s and challenged the judge to score the rounds. I saw the improvement to some of the officials she did the seminar with. I sent her to different countries like South Africa and she did a splendid job there. She was always a good student and follows the rules and procedures that should be done to a tee,” said Bob Lee (Former President of the IBF).

Carter has worked in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the UK and South Africa. The title bouts were with the IBF, WBC, WBA, WBO, WBU and WBF.

“Lynne is not ONLY a pioneer in boxing but her work outside the ring is even more impressive. She is the founder and CEO of “A Fight for A Cause Foundation,” which has raised thousands for victims of Katrina, Autism Research and has helped establish an afternoon school program for Autistic children in West Philadelphia. Getting back to her judging career, after over 35 years she still judges several World title fights each and every year, so she must be doing something right,” said Henry Hascup. (President of the NJB HOF)

Some of the bouts Carter judged were for such boxers as Gilberto Ramirez, Mickey Ward, “Prince” Charles Williams, Bobby Czyz, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Billy Joe Saunders, Riddick Bowe, Andre and Anthony Dirrell, Marco Huck, Arthur Abraham, Sadam Ali, Gary Russell, Jr., Sergio Martinez, Zolt Erdei, Tomasz Adamek, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Adrien Broner, Paul Williams, Juan Manuel Lopez, Shannon Briggs, Bruce Seldon, Roy Jones, Jr., Virgil Hill, Kassim Ouma, Waldimir Klitschko, Samuel Peter, Zab Judah, Lamon Brewster, Charles Brewer, James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, Tony Tubbs, Lennox Lewis, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Pernell Whitaker, Maurice Blocker, Hector Camacho, John David Jackson, Marlon Starling, Leslie Steward, Milt McCrory, Buster Drayton and Marvis Frazier.

Carter served her apprenticeship in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Pennsylvania Commissioner James J. Binns, Executive Secretary Francis Walker and Chief Inspector Charles Campbell.

Carter was trained by “Smokin” Joe Frazier, former Heavyweight Champion of the world, on the basics of boxing and Carol Polis, first female Boxing Judges in the United States. She received her professional license in March of 1982.

Carter trained and assisted upcoming female apprentices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She was the first female boxing judge in Connecticut licensed at the Foxwoods Casino – Mashantucket Pequot Reservation.

Carter was a Presenter for the State of New Jersey to conduct the Judge’s Training Seminar on “Boxing is Our Business” under Commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr. Also a Presenter for International Boxing Federation to conduct a Training Seminar on “What Constitutes a Knockdown” for Judges and Referees. For the ING in Atlanta. A co-presenter for the International Boxing Federation on the “10 Point Must System” and the “Boxing Criteria for Judging” for the IBF in Rhode Island.

Carter was the First African American Female to officiate in the State of Pennsylvania on an international level. To officiate in the World Boxing Association, World Boxing organization and the World Boxing Union. To officiate in the State of New Jersey. Licensed in Mixed Martial Arts in the State of New Jersey. Licensed in the World Boxing Foundation. To make World History in the Sport of boxing – First time in the WBA history of boxing with all female officials.

Carter’s Honor & Awards were so numerous starting with the “Smokin” Joe Frazier Award of some twenty she has received. She has be assigned in the United Kingdom, Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. In the United States she has worked in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Texas, Maryland and Arizona.
Carter has done Fundraising for Autistic Children, Clean Block Captain in the City of Philadelphia. Community and Political Activist. Founder, Vernon House Cultural Committee and a Committeewoman.