NEW YORK, April 16 -- Let me explain something for those who weren't paying close enough attention, or who were too cowardly to take a stance.

The boxing world changed on April 15, and it wasn't because people sent in their tax forms. A boxers' union came to life this day at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, and the time has come to support it, oppose it, or just shut the hell up.

There are apparently some reports floating around about Thursday's fights at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan that conveniently omitted the fact that this card was the first unionized boxing card in America, and was put on by promoter Cedric Kushner in conjunction with the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB), which is part of the Teamsters Union.

Prominently displayed around the Hammerstein Ballroom Thursday night were banners from numerous locals of the Teamsters supporting JAB, as well as from many other unions. Among those in attendance and addressing the crowd was James P. Hoffa, the General President of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has 1.4 million members. Also in attendance and supporting JAB was Democratic Presidential candidate, the Rev. Al Sharpton.

While some unions declined the opportunity to organize boxers, the Teamsters have stepped up to attempt to organize boxers into a union of their own. JAB's efforts were supported by the following organizations listed in the event's program:

Cedric Kushner Promotions
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Teamsters Local 202
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers, AFL-CIO
Teamsters Local 211
Building Material Teamsters Local 282
Local 522 IBT
Soft Drink and Brewery Workers Union Local 812
Teamsters Local No. 97
Teamsters Local 815
Local 420, DC 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
Amalgamated Bank
Morgan Stanley
The Yucaipa Companies
INVESCO, Fred Harrall, Marketing Director
Vision Service Plan, Parsippany, NJ
Union Labor Benefits, Clifton, NJ
J. Bruce Maffeo, Esq.
William Dealy, Esq.
StoneRidge Investment Partners
HIP Health Plan of New York
Congress Asset Management Company
The Segal Company
MagnaCare
Bjurman, Barry & Associates
Lord Abbett
The Taft-Hartley Group
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO, CLC
Abacus Advisors
Fiduciary Trust International
Campagnola Restaurant
Teamsters Local No. 630, Los Angeles
Teamsters Local 986
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada AFL-CIO, CLC
National Association of Letter Carriers
Executive and Advisory Board of Joint Council 16
Friendly Sons of Shillelagh Jersey Shore
Teamsters Local Union 251
New York State Teamsters Joint Council 18
Garage Employees Local Union No. 272
Local 758, SEIU, AFL-CIO Hotel & Allied Service Workers Union
Dickinson Webber Co., Inc.
Express Scripts
Deans Archer & Co.
Bear Stearns Asset Management
Oppenheimer Capital
ING Investment Management
Levy Ratner, P.C.
Healthplex
Members Mortgage Corp.
American Income Life Insurance Company
D. J. O'Grady
Diversified Distributors
James, Eaton, & Woods
LSV Management
Segall Bryant & Hamill
Iron Workers Local 46
Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments
Structural Iron Workers Local 40
IBT Local 804
Silverman Associates
Benefit Services
Brecher Fishman Pasternack Popish Heller Rubin Reiff
A. & J. Produce Corp.
Michigan Teamsters Joint Council #43
Steinberg, Steckler, & Picciurro
New York State Iron Workers District Council
Federation Pension Bureau
Rittenhouse Asset Management
Teamsters Local #264
Teamsters Local Union 701
Teamsters Local 20
Law Enforcement Officers Union Council 82
Mesirow Financial
Detectives' Endowment Association
People's Alliance Federal Credit Union
Labor Assistance Professionals
Teamsters Local 317
Teamsters Hispanic Caucus
Kossoff, Alper & Unger
Wachovia Securities, Saratoga Springs, NY
Automotive Parts Distributors Association
Ronald F. Capano C.P.A. and Staff
State Street Global Advisors
Teamsters Local 435
Local Union 379
Wagner & Zwerman LLP
Teamsters Local 945
Tocqueville Asset Management
Truck Drivers Local 807
Top Banana
Local 813
Allegiance Capital
New York City District Council of Carpenters

Get the idea? The days of boxing operating in its own insular world are over.

Noticeably absent from this impressive list are any other boxing promoters other than Cedric Kushner, any television networks that profit from broadcasting boxing, and any members of the boxing media that earn income from reporting about what the boxers do.

Supporting JAB, of course, does not require that it be done uncritically or unconditionally. But history is a-movin', and the time has come to speak up and support the effort to unionize boxers.

I am sure a lot of people will be listening very closely.

And as usual, we will have more on this issue on "Knockout Radio," exclusively on MaxBoxing.com.

This article first appeared on MaxBoxing.com on April 16, 2004 and was written by Eddie Goldman.