Reply #6: Right. [View All]

[H2O Man]

With promoters, it ALWAYS is about money. Add to that, that there are a couple of states that have no (or next to no) real boxing commission, and hence no enforcement of any rules & regulations.

More, I can say with zero chance of error that some state officials have been paid off. Shocking, I know.

Fot at least 50 years, the decent managers have advocated for a national commission. They've been ignored. Hence, today we see the open ties between promotion and management, which results in there being something akin to different "leagues" in professional boxing. A promoter like Bob Arum can keep the guys in his league from fighting the worthy competion "owned" by another promoter.

Small surprise that Arum worked under US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, investigating organized crime. Arum focused on the role that organized crime played in "owning" top fighters, and exercising a monopoly on promoting championship bouts. That was his introduction to the sport. While in the 1980s, he did promote more competitive bouts than rival Don King, he has become one of the very worst influences on the sport. Either he or King are alone more than enough reason to justify a national commission. Can you imagine a sport like baseball, basketball, or football having 50 different commissions?