Minimum pay scales, health insurance, pension benefit plans and retirement funds - these will, eventually, be available to all professional prizefighters through the newly formed boxing union, the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB).

Professional football, baseball and basketball players are all backed up by unions. Why not boxers?

That's what former light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad thought when, in May, he founded JAB.

"We're not going to wait anymore for you to be down and out before we do something to help you," Muhammad says. "We're going to be there for you whenever you need it."

Sound too good to be true? Like an impossible pipe dream?

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters does not think so.

Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa announced earlier this month that it has begun the process of affiliating JAB as a professionals fighters union.

Already, JAB has signed up more than 200 professional fighters, including WBC lightweight champion Vivian Harris, contenders Genaro Hernandez, Al "Ice" Cole, Gary Balleto and Olympic gold medalist Mohammad Abdulaev.

Several members have also furthered their involvement by becoming union representatives.

Albuquerque middleweight boxer Max Heyman has agreed to be the spokesman for New Mexico. Heyman has turned his career around in the nine months he has been trained by JAB founder Muhammad, and after attending JAB's first meeting in May, he shared his trainer's vision.

"JAB will be the biggest thing in boxing since the Marquis of Queensbury introduced the rules of boxing in 1865," Heyman said.

"Most everyone knows about all the corruption in boxing. A lot of fighters retire homeless and broke. Others fight well beyond their years, risking their lives. JAB will help ensure the safety of the sport."

There's a lot on JAB's plate. But before they can begin to make a change, they must gain support of boxers by signing them.

"At this point, you just sign up," Heyman said. "There are no dues yet - you don't owe until we can do something for you first."

How dues will be collected in the future has yet to be worked out. Fighters either will pay 2 percent of their purse, or will be charged on a scaled, per-year basis.

"Membership is voluntary, and the details are unclear," Heyman said. "But we're looking for solidarity first."

In a sport dictated by big promoters, big networks and many sanctioning bodies, JAB does not expect to be fully embraced at first. On the other hand, other big names, like promoter Cedric Kushner and former undisputed heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, have pledged support. Others are not so quick to help boost an entity that might, one day, call the shots in boxing.

"We're not trying to take control away from major promoters," Heyman says. "We're not trying to be managers. But we are here to tell fighters that we'll go to bat for them.

"JAB is owned by the fighters. As it grows, everyone will have to recognize this union."

Besides increasing protection and benefits, the union will try to act as a go-between for corporations seeking sponsorship and promoters at all levels.

Heyman sees JAB operating like the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which doles out benefits according to the member's level of activity and especially to those who make a career out of boxing.

"It's not an easy task, but it's a necessary step for boxing," Heyman says.

"Right now, we're looking for promoters to come on board, and for boxers to sign up. The word needs to spread for this union to work."