According to an AP report, former Las Vegas boxing judge Paul Smith was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Social Security fraud. From September 1994 to December 2005, Smith defrauded the Social Security Administration out of roughly $400,000. Earlier today, U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden revealed that Smith has been ordered to report to prison by July 20 and must pay approximately $436,000 in restitution. For those that are unfamiliar with the name, 66-year-old Paul Smith has judged close to 190 fights, some of which have ended in controversy after the scorecards were read.
The fact that Smith earned a little over $133,000 as a judge is what got him in trouble in the first place, failing to notify the Social Security Administration that he had been working and involved with various businesses in a manner inconsistent with his status as a recipient of disability benefits. The last fight he judged was back on May 2, 2009, when then WBC super featherweight champion Humberto Soto scored a 9th round TKO win over Benoit Gaudet. At the time of the stoppage, Smith had the bout scored 76-75 in favor of the challenger Gaudet. The other two judges, Tom Miller and Jerry Roth, had champion Soto winning virtually every round with scores of 78-73 and 80-71 respectively.
Some more notable bouts that Smith judged include the following:
- July 16, 2005 - Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor I
Jermain Taylor would win a controversial split decision. Most fans felt Bernard Hopkins was the clear winner. Smith scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Taylor. - March 19, 2005 - Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales I
Erik Morales would win a close, but unanimous decision. Smith scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Morales. - November 11, 2004 - Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales III
Marco Antonio Barrera would win a close majority decision. Smith scored the bout 114-114. - June 5, 2004 - Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Sturm
Oscar De La Hoya would win a controversial unanimous decision. Most fans felt Felt Sturm deserved the decision. Smith scored the bout 115-113 in favor of De La Hoya.