Introducing Sparkle Lee

"Reet petit the finest girl you ever want to meet..." howled the great Jackie Wilson. Upon first glance, the diminutive beauty might send most men into a tizzy. She emits charm as effortlessly as breathing; and when she flashes that dimple-laced smile you'll find yourself completely defenseless. Her grace is so illuminating it follows her inside the most treacherous arena in all of sports. Even Larry Merchant found himself captivated by her. Gushed the legendary commentator: "She moves like a dancer..." However, when it comes to Sparkle Lee, the adage "don't judge a book by its cover" rings vibrantly true.
Born and raised in Harlem, Sparkle could scrap with a zeal that belied her girlscout manner. "I have a twin sister who would get picked on a lot. So whenever someone wanted to fight her, they got me instead," she laughs. "Believe it or not I was a huge wrestling fan." That was until one fateful night at Madison Square Garden when, she says, "I discovered it was just 'entertainment.' I was devastated"- and like a jilted lover she strayed into the arms of another, the sweet science. "I was hooked..." and the rest is history, literally.

In 1998 she became the first woman to officiate in the New York Golden Gloves. In 2001 she became the first woman licensed by the New York State Athletic Commission, and in 2007 she became the first woman licensed to officiate in New Jersey. Almost sounds like a fairytale , but like many participants in this business her road was hardly paved with yellow bricks. Initially, she set out to become a fighter. However, being a single mother of three would make it impossible for her to meet the demands of a boxing career. Instead she joined the New York Police Department and spent twenty years patrolling some of the city's most notorious neighborhoods. But neither her love for the sport nor her desire to participate in it would ever diminish. A member of the USA Boxing Federation since 1983, she'd been judging amateur bouts for quite some time. Then, in 1991, she decided to reenter the squared circle, in a capacity not often occupied by a woman. "Obviously, there were naysayers who had their own issues with women being in authority." She discovered that attitude resonated inside the ring as well. "My first time out was rough. I got no respect from the fighters."

However, this fall, as she officiated for Abner Mares vs. Damian Marchiano in her HBO debut, Sparkle was anything but that bumbling amateur official grappling for "respect." "She's very strong," lauded Larry Merchent. "She doesn't overuse her authority." Interestingly enough, Ms. Lee had no idea she was officiating for Mares-Marchiano until she arrived at the venue. "I couldn't believe it. I was so excited, I started texting my kids," she laughs. "But, I was ready. I felt great that night." That focus and readiness is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her craft. "I'm in the gym five days a week. I'm always learning. I never want to allow myself to get comfortable, because when you think you know, you don't."

Listening to Sparkle talk about the sport she loves is inspiring, much like hearing someone talk about a new love , and like someone rapturously in love, she hardly gives a second thought to the negative things she's encountered. "Genereally, I have been very well received in this sport. Obviously I feel the pressures of often being the only woman in the ring. Believe me, I've had some outrageous things said to me during fights, but I won't give anyone an excuse to say I don't belong here. I've come too far to allow others to define me. I didn't set out to become the 'first female' anything," she says. "I just love this sport." The budding deaconness goes on to profess the greatest joy of her endeavors. "I love the fact that what I'm doing just might be an inspiration to someone who might be watching me. God doesn't give you blessings to hoard, but for your cup to overflow and bless others."

These days Sparkle Lee's cup is indeed overflowing. She's come a long way since the days when her dreams had to take a backseat to obligation. Now she radiates with pride, haveing raised three college-educated children; and this fall she became a grandmother for the very first time. "I've officiated over some of the toughest fighters in the world, but babysitting my grandson wipes me out," she laughs. "I love that my family is able to share this dream with me. This would have been impossible and worthless without their support."

© 2008

Originally published in BOXING DIGEST - April 2008