Eastsideboxing.com: Professional Fighters Form Union



	Eastsideboxing.com: Professional Fighters Form Union Joint Association of Boxers (JAB) to Seek Affiliation with Teamsters Union May 7, 2003 New York, May 7 — For many years, professional fighters have talked about the need for a union to represent their interests both during and after their boxing careers. Today, a group of professional fighters announced the formation of a bona fide boxers union, the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB). According to founder Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, the former Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, “JAB, the boxers union, will seek to represent professional fighters at all levels, in all weight classes. JAB has the support of some of the biggest names in boxing and will move quickly in the weeks ahead to sign all professional fighters to membership.” “JAB’s goal,” says Muhammad, “is to negotiate an industry wide collective bargaining agreement with boxing promoters that will give boxers the dignity, security, and protection they need and deserve—both inside the ring and out, both during and after their active careers.” JAB has won the support of fighters ranging from former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes to new professionals like undefeated Olympic Gold Medalist Muhammadoer Adulaev, and hundreds and others. Says Muhammad: “This is the best thing both for the boxers and the sport of boxing. It will help to stabilize and regulate the sport and give it the foundation for growth in which all parties will benefit.” In seeking a union affiliation, Muhammed said there is no comparison between the Teamsters and any other union. “It is the strongest and cleanest union with the greatest political clout and highest visibility. The Teamsters Union under James P. Hoffa is in a League of its own,” said Muhammed. Muhammad and JAB co-founder Walter Kane, an attorney with the law firm of Vladeck, Waldman, Elias, and Engelhard, will meet in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday with Teamsters President James P. Hoffa to discuss affiliation options. This article originally appeared on eastsideboxing.com on May 7, 2003.
©2003-2007 Joint Association of Boxers P.O. Box 2662 New York, NY 10108 Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (202) 437-5755 info@boxersunion.org