As you know we recently lost one of our most beloved and respected members of our boxing community; William “Doc” Lathan.  For years Doc served as the New York State ringside physician. My association with Dr. Lathan expanded close to thirty years, and throughout that entire time, I could honestly say he consistently remained at the top of his professional game. Doc captivated others in the profession, presenting himself with a calm and coolness, all the while supplying the medical expertise of a prized perfectionist.

As an early ringside doctor, he became the medical director of the New York State Commission. In that position he instituted high standards for physicians in the sport of boxing.  An advocate for extensive testing, Doctor Lathan’s utmost concern was always for the safety and wellbeing of each fighter and participant of the sport, regardless of his/her status in the boxing community. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Dr. Lathan’s involvement in a specific World Title fight many years ago.  During each fighter’s medical assessment, Dr. Lathan was made aware of a situation, causing one of the main bout fighters to fail his exam. Immediately, Doc suspended the major world title fight, putting the safety of the fighters first.  This decision, while an easy one for Doc, led to an insurmountable amount of backlash and criticism for the Doc.  For days following, he received phone calls from around the world, pressuring him to change his decision.  He never wavered. True to his word, Doc stood for the principle of safety and wellbeing, sacrificing his own notoriety in his decision. Doc always felt he never had to make a tough decision because he would always make the right one.

With his overall experience and knowledge, Doc used his expertise by providing medical seminars for the New York and New Jersey Athletic Commissions, the World Sanctioning Bodies along with the Association of Ringside Physicians. Doc Lathan used his position to better the sport and strengthen the protection of fighters. Doc was an advocate for the medical physicians on site, granting them the right to stop a fight when necessary, a responsibility that was once just given to referees.  Doc also spent much of his time as a member and volunteer of many boxing charities such as the AAIB and VBA Ring 8.  In 2019, Doc earned a spot as an inductee to the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

Doc was not just a legend of a physician to our boxing family, but was a former captain in the U.S. Army. Doc was also an actor and director, winning an OBIE award for his directing. He was a loving husband to Melvina, former New York State Commissioner and father of 3, including Eddie who like his father became a medical doctor. Doc will undoubtedly be missed.

In closing, it was a pleasure and honor to know my friend Billy. In the end, when we all meet in the heavenly skies, just look for an angel wearing a sun visor and say “Doc Lathan I heard so much about you”.