January 27, 2004

LANSING -- Legislation to dramatically restructure professional boxing in Michigan passed committee unanimously Tuesday, and could go to the House floor for a vote as soon as today.

House Bill 4335, which among many provisions would create a Michigan Boxing Commission, increase boxer insurance, and require promoters to post bonds, passed the House Committee on Regulatory Reform 9-0, with recommendation for passage.

Among several boxing personalities to testify was Detroit manager and trainer Emanuel Steward. Former boxing champion Thomas Hearns of Detroit, and longtime contender Bronco McKart of Monroe also attended, but did not testify.

"From the moment this legislation passes, we would see immediate change in the promotion of boxing in Michigan," promoter Bill Kozerski of Bloomfield Township said.

Angel Manfredy, a boxer from Indiana, presented a rambling 25-minute testimony which cut short testimony of some Michigan boxing licensees who hoped to address specific issues contained within the bill.

Among those, referee Dale Grable said he intended to address the makeup of the proposed Michigan Boxing Commission.

Along with six gubernatorial appointees, the Department of Labor and Economic Growth director would be the commission's seventh member. DLEG also would have the privilege of approving or denying any request for rules promulgation by the commission.

"I don't understand why (DLEG) has a vote on the commission when it already has veto power. It's a major concern, but I didn't have time to address it," said Grable, a former Michigan Athletic Board of Control chairman, and the last person to offer testimony.

David Sebastian, a Birmingham attorney and former Athletic Board chairman, last week called DLEG's involvement as a voting member of a proposed commission, "a political plaything."

This article originally appeared in The Grand Rapids Press on January 21, 2004 and was written by David Mayo.
 

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