This is an IHeart podcast.

This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories,

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And our next story comes from a Colorado listener.

Let's take a listen. My name is Patty Kingsbaker and I grew up Miami.

My dad was the boxing coach for the University of Miami.

But they discontinued boxing in 1954, I believe.

But at the time, I mean, he had two jobs. He worked for the Carl Gables Fire Department

and he was the boxing coach for the University of Miami. So when they discontinued boxing,

he started refereeing. And so as when I was growing up, I'm not sure how old I was when he started taking me to the fights,

but I feel like I was at least seven. So every Friday night, I was over on Miami Beach with my dad

and going to the fight. So I grew up like knowing all the boxers and growing up in that world.

I mean, I just loved boxing. So we found out that

the Johansson-Patterson heavyweight championship fight was going to be in Miami. And of course,

you know, I was like, my dad's going to referee, you know, but they really, they don't find out

who's going to referee a fight know, but they really, they don't find out who's going to referee

a fight until like five minutes before the fight. They come over and get tagged, you know, to do

it. So long story short, my dad, there was one other referee that I knew was probably had enough

experience or that it was between my dad and this other guy. Well,

...