March 7, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A bill in Congress that would establish a federal boxing commission to better protect fighters and standardize fight rules received varying support in a Thursday hearing.

A representative of the International Boxing Federation said sanctioning bodies could back nationally uniform boxer safety and event regulations—but not a government-run commission under the Commerce Department, as directed by the bill.

"I would like it not to be a federal agency with some of these superior powers," Linda Torres, a lawyer for the International Boxing Federation, told the House subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection. She also spoke on behalf of the World Boxing Association.

Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner, who did not appear at the hearing, echoed past reactions to congressional efforts to reform the image-tarnished sport.

"Our biggest concern would be state's rights, as always," he said in an interview.

Ratner has not yet reviewed the newly unveiled House bill. He said he could support a national commission, although he favors a governing body with members who represent the sport's varied players, such as fighters, promoters, regulators and television officials.

Ratner also said he has initial concerns about Nevada's boxing industry paying an unfair share of the cost of a federal commission. But as boxing industry insiders have long debated the pros and cons of a national commission, Ratner has supported more uniform regulations. Rules in the ring vary from state to state. The three-knockdown and saved-by-the-bell rules differ, for example.

"The status quo really isn't perfect," Ratner said. "We need some help in the industry."

Congress for 10 years has sought to reform boxing. In 1996 Congress passed a law that required matches be overseen by a state boxing commission. The Muhammad Ali Boxing Act of 2000 was aimed at reducing financial corruption.

Now the bill backed by House subcommittee chairman Clifford Stearns, R-Fla., aims to establish a federal government commission that would set and enforce standardized national rules and oversee professional matches. The commission also would:

• require boxers to be licensed every four years and require mangers, promoters and sanctioning organizations to be licensed every two years;
• conduct investigations with full government subpoena power;
• establish a national computer registry for quick retrieval of boxing industry information.

"The glamour and the glitz of the big Vegas and Atlantic City bouts" obscures thousands of boxers who risk injury and death in roughly 1,000 professional fights every year, Stearns said.

"Those fighters who are lucky enough to avoid the extreme physical risks in the ring still face exploitation outside of it from the unsavory characters the sport continues to attract," Stearns said.

A leading ringside physician told the House panel that any bill that creates a federal commission should set standardized medical rules for boxers. It should also support medical research on the effects of boxing and maintain a central medical data bank, said Michael Schwartz, chairman of the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians.

Pre-fight medical examination rules vary widely from state to state, Schwartz said. The legislation should address the often expensive medical requirements that spur fighters to beat the system, he said.

Schwartz one afternoon received seven identical electrocardiogram test results for seven fighters. A manager had "whited out" and re-written fighter names on the same result, Schwartz said.

Boxers at medical risk should not fight, Schwartz said.

"The most important thing is we protect these kids so that they have a life after boxing," he said.

A third witness, New York State Athletic Commission chairman Ron Scott Stevens, reiterated another long-standing issue among sport insiders—the need for a pension fund for fighters and others who make the sport their full-time job.

"It can be done and it must be done, in some way and in some form," Stevens said.

The House bill is similar to legislation advocated by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Reid has objected to pieces of the McCain legislation. Reid has long backed boxing reform that held cable television networks accountable as fight promoters.

Nevada lawmakers are reviewing the new bill, aides said.
 

The article originally appeared in the Las Vegas Sun on March 4, 2005 and was written by Benjamin Grove.

©2003-2007 Joint Association of Boxers
P.O. Box 2662
New York, NY 10108
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
(202) 437-5755
info@boxersunion.org