Joe Cortez
Name: Joe Cortez
Date of Birth: 1945
Hometown: New York, NY
Resides: Las Vegas, Nev.
Born and raised in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Joe Cortez had an exceptional amateur boxing career, winning six Golden Gloves tournaments from 1960–1962. In 1963, at the age of 18, Joe became a professional boxer and retired from the ring with a record of 18-1.
In the mid 1970's, Cortez began working as a professional boxing referee. Shortly thereafter, he took on the responsibility of refereeing some of the greatest fights of all time.
By 2000, Cortez became one of the world's premier boxing referees. He has refereed over 175 world championship fights, some of which include the first meeting between Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez, and the first and third fights of the Evander Holyfield—Riddick Bowe trilogy. Cortez has also overseen the bouts of other great fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Roberto Duran, Larry Holmes, Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mike Tyson (9 times), Eric Morales, Lennox Lewis, Felix Trinidad, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, Fernando Vargas, George Foreman, Bernard Hopkins, and Shane Mosley. He has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
His infamous catchphrase during pre-fight instructions, "I'm Fair, But I'm Firm" is now a copyrighted trademark.
As a result of his outstanding ring mechanics and experience in the field of boxing, he landed roles in such major films as "Play It To The Bone" starring Antonio Banderas and Woody Harrelson, "I Spy" with Eddie Murphy, and most recently, "Rocky Balboa". He has also appeared on the sitcom "Wannabe Champion", is currently hosting a travel show entitled "Knock-out Destinations", and is working on a documentary of his life story entitled "The Man in Charge".
Cortez also helps at-risk children by visiting after-school programs and various youth organizations. He also gives children boxing lessons and has a website, fairbutfirm.com, that teaches boxing referee clinics and lessons.
"Boxing has afforded me a spot in the limelight, and I intend to use the opportunity to help be a positive role model to the youth and minorities and help wherever I can," Cortez said.
On a more personal level, Cortez is married to wife of 43 year years, Sylvia. They have lived in Las Vegas since 1992 and are joined by their daughters Cindy, Sandy, and Christine as well as their three grandchildren.
In June of 1996, his family had a tragic car accident in California where his daughter Cindy and his wife were injured. The accident caused Cindy a serious spinal cord injury and she is now a quadriplegic. Because of Cindy's fighting spirit and determination to recover, Cortez is dedicated to increasing awareness of spinal cord injuries and stem cell research.
His attention to Cindy and Sylvia's health made Cortez understand the value of his own health. In 2006, after a visit to his doctor, Cortez was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After undergoing surgery to completely remove the cancer from his body, Joe made a full recovery and was back in the ring refereeing just six weeks later.
"I firmly believe that my medical check-up saved my life," Cortez said. "I was fortunate to catch the prostate cancer at an early stage so it could be treated. That’s why I've teamed up with The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer—so other men will understand the importance of getting their yearly exam."
Joe Cortez's Story
Boxing referee beats prostate cancer, looks to family for inspiration
Having spent most of his adult life in a boxing ring, Joe Cortez knows all about being tough. And being smart. Cortez regularly went to the doctor for full physical exams, and that diligence saved his life in 2006 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
"It was something important to me," says Cortez, one of boxing's most acclaimed referees, known for his 'Fair But Firm' motto. "I am not selfish, so it was easy for me to check that I had the situation."
Knowing that Hispanic men have an increased risk for developing prostate cancer, Cortez regularly had his PSA level monitored, and for years it kept climbing. A first biopsy did not reveal prostate cancer, but a second one showed he had the disease.
While the survival rate for men who are diagnosed at an early stage is nearly 100 percent after five years, men should carefully consider all the treatment options with their doctor before acting on a specific course of treatment. Treatments can include drug therapy, radiation, surgery and watchful waiting.
"I told them immediately I wanted the surgery," Cortez said. "They said I could take my time, but I said I want to have this taken care of now. They got me in three weeks later.
"I am always a positive person, I look at the glass as half full, and that got me through the situation."
And six weeks later, he was back in the ring.
Cortez says he has felt as good as new since the surgery, and still leads an active life.
"I don't let anything hold me back," he said. "I wouldn't take my car to a car wash, I would wash it myself. I like doing whatever is put in front of me."
As a World Boxing Hall of Fame referee, Cortez has officiated fights involving some of the sport's all-time greats, from Muhammad Ali to Mike Tyson to Oscar De La Hoya. He calls refereeing "not work for me, I take it like a game. It is fun. I enjoy it."
Joe is far from the only inspirational figure in his family. His wife of 43 years, Sylvia, is a two-time breast cancer survivor. In 1996, his daughter Cindy was in an auto accident that left her a quadriplegic.
Today, Cindy is a leading advocate of stem cell research and awareness of spinal cord injuries. Her courage has taught Joe some valuable lessons.
"From that day she ended up as a quadriplegic, she has never complained, 'Why did that happen to me?' She is so focused on what she wants to do," he said. "She has been driving for the last five to six years, goes shopping and to work out and to the beauty parlor.
"That inspired me to never complain about anything, especially health issues. My wife is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so we have been hit pretty good. We get up, look at it as a temporary setback and keep going forward."
- Question 1: Why did you decide to work with Depend® and ZERO on The Depend® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer?
I feel if I can help save one life, I am happy. I know a lot of individuals will listen to me, and I have a lot of fans out there who follow me. I find it is a wakeup call for them. They say, 'Joe is right, let me go out there and get checked.'
I know that one of six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. At this point, you can't deny the disease is out there, just like women with breast cancer. If you want to live your life and if you have loved ones, it is something you owe them. Why be selfish and say you don't need it?
- Question 2: Many men, including Hispanic men, do not like going to a doctor. Do you consider yourself a role model and an advocate for men taking care of their health?
When I go to talk to group of individuals, whether it's 100 people or 200 or 1,000, whether it's youth programs or inspirational groups, I talk to them and everybody is silent and they listen. They recognize who I am and I capitalize on it because I am able to get a message out there about health care, motivate people to do it. Latino people listen to what I am saying because they know I am speaking from the heart.
I am very vocal about the prostate situation, and I have spoken to all my friends. I feel good about spreading that news to whomever I can about how important it is to get a checkup and to be honest. You may feel OK, but inside of you, things might be happening. If you catch it on time, you can beat it.
- Question 3: As a prostate cancer survivor, how is your health now? How fit are you as you work some of boxing's biggest events?
When you think I am slowing up in that ring, put those notices out. I am moving better than I used to now, I think.
Getting my checkups and then the surgery was a blessing in disguise. I was educated enough to know about getting the prostate surgery. Being a boxing referee, it is mandatory to get a yearly physical, and I still get a full physical once a year. I made it regular thing to do.
I don't even think about [prostate cancer]—it doesn't bother me in any way. I play tennis with my grandson, I am in the gym working out, and then I'm working my fights.
- Question 4: Many people think of boxing as just a physical sport, but it goes far beyond that, doesn't it?
Being a fighter is not easy. People think if you are in fit condition, you will be a good boxer. It's not just conditioning, but different things that make you a fighter. Who is your trainer, for example? Who teaches you the right moves and how well do you learn them?
And you can't train yourself the same way all the time, but you train according to your opposition. If your opponent is a slugger and you are more of a boxer, you train differently for the fight, and you try to keep him on the outside. But if he is a skilled boxer like you, maybe you have to turn your style to be more aggressive.
Boxing is like a chess game and you have to think ahead. If he changes his style, you have to be prepared to go the other way, too.
You have to be smart in the ring above everything else. And there's conditioning, diet, how you train. It all adds up.
Ask a Legend—Jim Kelly
