Traveling the world to officiate International boxing matches, including the Olympic and Pan American games, Tony Filipelli has long been a "sports ambassador" for his native Utica Area.

Born in Utica on October 6, 1935, Filipelli graduated from Proctor High School and Mohawk Valley Community College. While in the service he fought as a light middleweight and was Second Army champion in 1954. After an injury terminated his career, he took up officiating in 1959. He has officiated USA Boxing Championships every year since 1963, New York State Golden Gloves, the Olympic trials and the United States Armed Forces Championships since 1972. He also refereed the Pan American games in 1979 and 1987, the Olympic games in 1984, the World Boxing Championships in 1986 and the Goodwill games in 1990.

Tony Filipelli was named United States Official of the Year in 1981 by The United States Amatuer Boxing Federation and was given the Best Friend Award for 1977-81 by the Rome Boxing Association, Rome, N.Y. He has refereed bouts involving some of the outstanding boxers of the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s such as Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield.

Filipelli, a recreation specialist at the Marcy Correctional Facility, said he always received a special thrill, when, at a major international boxing event, it was announced that the referee, Tony FilipelIi was from Utica, N.Y.