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Description
Sacramento native Fred Bottaro officiates this circa-1935 bout between two unidentified fighters at the L Street Arena, located at 223 L St. Bottaro was easily the most recognizable boxing official in 20th century Sacramento. Known as the "Honest Blacksmith," Bottaro starting fighting in Sacramento in 1906 and served as the trainer for the Hogan's Alley Gang in bouts against groups from Alkali Flat and Oak Park, and even converted his home's basement at Fourth and O streets into a gym. As time went on and professional boxing became legalized in California in 1925, Bottaro became the first referee to be licensed in the state. For the next 40 years, he refereed bouts involving world champions like Max Baer, James Braddock, Archie Moore, Maxie Rosenbloom, Young Corbett and Joe Louis. He died in 1971.
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