Mr. Filippo also memorably counted out Sylvester Stallone’s rival Apollo Creed in the film “Rocky II.’’

He was a distinguished amateur fighter who fought in more than 250 bouts before turning pro. His fighting career ended in 1957 with a no-contest outcome and a technical knockout loss against Hall of Famer Carlos Ortiz, a bout stopped because of Mr. Filippo’s cuts. Bleeding plagued his 23-9-3 pro career.

In a sport often stained by shady behavior, boxing historian Don Fraser and boxing publicist Bill Caplan recalled Mr. Filippo as a pillar of character and honesty who proceeded to referee and judge 85 world championship fights, including Sugar Ray Leonard’s controversial split-decision victory over Marvin Hagler in 1987. Mr. Filippo scored narrowly in Hagler’s favor.

“He took some heat, but why?’’ Caplan asked. “The perfect man would have taken heat over that fight. Half of the people thought each guy won.’’

Mr. Filippo also judged Shane Mosley’s split-decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2000.

Mr. Filippo told his two daughters that the most important part of his job was maintaining integrity and to “listen to yourself, not the fans.’’

Caplan said Mr. Filippo’s reputation as a “loyal, straight-up guy’’ helped him win Stallone’s attention, and the actor used Mr. Filippo in all five of his “Rocky’’ movies. In “Rocky II,’’ Mr. Filippo told Stallone’s bloodied character Rocky Balboa before the epic 15th round, “Hey, Rock, you get in trouble one more time . . .’’ to which Balboa answered, “Don’t stop nothing!’’ When both fighters fell to the canvas on a Balboa punch and Creed slumped in a corner, Mr. Filippo tells the champ, “You’re out!’’