Legendary boxing figure Eddie Cotton died on Friday morning at 72 after being hospitalized with the coronavirus.
The Premier Boxing Champions family wishes to extend its condolences to the family and friends of Eddie Cotton. Cotton died Friday morning after being hospitalized with the coronavirus. He was 72.
A stalwart of the sweet science, Cotton served as both a judge, a referee and worked with various boxing-related organizations. He was born in Los Angeles in 1947 and moved to Paterson, New Jersey, where he became the city’s first African-American president of the City Council and public works director.
As a City Council member, Cotton covered his first amateur bout in July 1980 at Paterson's Hinchcliff Stadium. His passion for the sport grew as he worked with the state penal system boxing championships.
Cotton officiated his first pro bout in 1992. He worked fights as either a referee and/or boxing judge until 2014. Cotton was serving on the International Boxing Federation board of directors until a bout with the coronavirus placed him in the hospital for 10 days.
"Paterson has lost a legend," Mayor Andre Sayegh told the Paterson Times on Friday. "Ed Cotton was an accomplished boxing referee, a respected community leader and a cherished friend."
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.
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