Ok, after reading several interviews this week the idea of a boxing commission popped back into my head. Does anyone else see a need for one? Here are my reasons for supporting one:


Promoters trap fighters in contracts that are unfair to both the fighters and the fans. We need a commitee to oversee the contracts and ensure fair labor practices
All major sports (baseball, football, hockey, and basketball) are obligated, by law, to disclose their network deals but boxing isn't. This is unfair to the fighters because they don't know how much money a promoter is getting for his fight and, therefore, what percentage of the "profit" he is being paid. Why should the promoter, who isn't in the ring taking a punch or two, get more money than the fighter (percentage wise)?
Promoters and fighters who are banned in one state are allowed to fight in others. For example, Tyson can't fight in Nevada or New York, but he can fight in Tennessee. We need rules that apply globally, not just by state.
Sanctioning fees are rediculous. The WBC charged Morales and Barrerra 70.000 EACH in sanctioning fees for their last fight, and that was just one sanctioning body. Imagine how much Hopkins has to pay since he has four belts. One body means less fees for the fighters and more money in their pockets. I think we can all agree they need it.
The alphabet titles are confusing. How many champs do we need in a division? Now we have champion emeritus, interim champion, international champion, NABO continental champion, and the list goes on. One champion per division is all we need. The word "champ" has lost its meaning.


There are more gripes and complaints but that is enough for now. Why do you guys think there should or shouldn't be a commission to oversee our beloved sport?

There needs to be one body overseeing the entire sport. The best fighters need to be on board with that body.

It is like how there is the NBA, and then there is all the other pro, semi pro leagues that know they are not as good.

This body also needs to force fighters to face eachother in a timely manner even if they don't soak up every last dollar available.

The way it is now is crap and you get divisions like 140, where there are plenty of good fighters, but they make a ruckus before fighting eachother.

It would be like the Patriots saying they will not play the Steelers, unless it was for the Superbowl, and the commission saying they are both AFC teams and they have to play in the AFC game, so the PAtriots decide to play the 49ers instead.

I totally approve of this sort of like the USA Boxing organization, Something needs to be done although the powers that be are deciding this most likely know more money is made the way it is now.

Since Boxing is an individual sport and not a team sport is another reason why I see this not happening it would be great but not anytime soon, They just dont want to put up the money for the big paydays and the starlight of the mega fighters as well....

Another thing is CONTRACTS! In majority of sports today you are paid a strict salary with possible bonuses, this cant be assessed in boxing either fighters would disagree to these type of things...

I know it needs to happen, but it is a long strung out process that most likely wont due to the complications.

this is a no brainer. the only honest people in boxing are the fighters. if the same people who run the wbc, wba et al run the commission we will be in the same boat a few years down the line.

Actually, it's easier than it sounds. I'm going to answer some of your concerns in the quote.

I totally approve of this sort of like the USA Boxing organization, Something needs to be done although the powers that be are deciding this most likely know more money is made the way it is now. Yes, there is more money now than there would be under one commission...for the promoters. The moneys paid for a fight won't change because there is one body doing the dealing instead of a bunch of promoters. The only people who stand to lose are the promoters such as King, DiBella, Golden Boy, and Arum to name a few. Of course they lobby in congress so that this law (Sen. John McCain from Az is the biggest proponent of this passing as law) never passes.

Since Boxing is an individual sport and not a team sport is another reason why I see this not happening it would be great but not anytime soon, They just dont want to put up the money for the big paydays and the starlight of the mega fighters as well.... Boxing being an individual sport is what makes a commission all that more necessary. There can be no strikes or walkouts because they are not a team and there is no boxers union. A commission would look out for the interests of the boxer and not of the promoter. The money would come from the venues just as it comes now. Do you think Don King gives money out of his pocket to make fights? Hell no! It comes from HBO (or other televising network), the door, concessions, and the like. The money amount won't change per fight just because there is no promoter.

Another thing is CONTRACTS! In majority of sports today you are paid a strict salary with possible bonuses, this cant be assessed in boxing either fighters would disagree to these type of things... That can be done here. A fighter can agree, in a contract, to a percentage. For example, a fighter like RJJ can sign a contract saying that he will take home 90% of his share and the other 10% is divided amoungst his managers and the rest of the team. That, however, would be a contract between RJJ and his team and not a promoter. Contracts as they are now would cease to exist since there will be no promoters. Why would they need to sign a contract with the commission? Only when the terms of a fight are agreed upon should the fighter sign a contract with the commission saying he agrees to the venue, time, date, and financial terms of the fight. His contract with his team is his business.

I know it needs to happen, but it is a long strung out process that most likely wont due to the complications.
John McCain is planning on reintroducing the bill on the Senate floor when Congress reconvens in January. Hopefully, it will pass this time.

this is a no brainer. the only honest people in boxing are the fighters. if the same people who run the wbc, wba et al run the commission we will be in the same boat a few years down the line.
Yes, you are right. However, if, by law, the commission is set to be a non-profit organization then all money from fights, minus those expenses of promoting and incidentals, would be for the fighters to split. Also, by forming a federal commission, such as the NBA and MLB have, they receive federal oversight ensuring that these things don't happen.

Another thing is, A commission could pass in the U.S. but what about fighters from other countries who are NOT legal citizens such as pac-man/barrera/trinidad/cotto and so forth????

A lot of the high profile fighters are not even american and carry green cards.....

Another thing is, A commission could pass in the U.S. but what about fighters from other countries who are NOT legal citizens such as pac-man/barrera/trinidad/cotto and so forth????

A lot of the high profile fighters are not even american and carry green cards.....

This is true. I think if a commission was built it would have to be a global commission and not just a national commission.

Yes, you are right. However, if, by law, the commission is set to be a non-profit organization then all money from fights, minus those expenses of promoting and incidentals, would be for the fighters to split. Also, by forming a federal commission, such as the NBA and MLB have, they receive federal oversight ensuring that these things don't happen.
that would be great, but what would we do without all those "superchamps"? ha ha!!!

Another thing is, A commission could pass in the U.S. but what about fighters from other countries who are NOT legal citizens such as pac-man/barrera/trinidad/cotto and so forth????

A lot of the high profile fighters are not even american and carry green cards.....
Actually, Trinidad and Cotto, by way of being Puerto Rican, are U.S. citizens. However, since you address international fighters I must say that, if fighting in the U.S. they would be subject to the laws of the commission but, when fighting in foreign countries the commission would act as their promoter, just as Don King or Bob Arum would. We can ensure fairness here in the U.S. but we can't do so for fighters who chose to fight under other promoters elsewhere. If they get screwed by their promoters then that's their problem to be solved in his/her country or he can come to the U.S. and fight here.

Ah, in replying to the international fighters thing something popped into my head: we would have our champs here but the WBC, IBF, et al, would still have their champs elsewhere in the world. It would be a pain to figure out how to combine the two and such. We would need a global commission, yes, or those fighters would need to sign with our commission and fight under these rules.

There will be growing pains, but I believe we can sort them out.

No such commission should ever be should be run by the U.S. government. What government agency is run efficiently?
Answer: NONE!

Actually, Trinidad and Cotto, by way of being Puerto Rican, are U.S. citizens. However, since you address international fighters I must say that, if fighting in the U.S. they would be subject to the laws of the commission but, when fighting in foreign countries the commission would act as their promoter, just as Don King or Bob Arum would. We can ensure fairness here in the U.S. but we can't do so for fighters who chose to fight under other promoters elsewhere. If they get screwed by their promoters then that's their problem to be solved in his/her country or he can come to the U.S. and fight here.

If there would be no promoters under this commission then where would the money come from. I know the networks put up some money but not all of it.

If there was a US commission like MLB that was not run by the government, it would be positive.

You would have situations where a fighter could be the "Philipino Champoin" and he could then fight the Commission Champion, but that just gets back to what we have now.

As far as the contracts go, if the fighters had guarenteed contracts, you would get some of the same crap that you have now like with Shawn Kemp retiring the season after he signes a multi-year deal.

There is going to have to be a lot of thought that goes into this and in the end, not everyone is going to be happy, but if this creates better fights and situations where people have to fight eachother, it will generally be a good thing.

Part of the politics will be that the people who will lose the most, be it the promoters, etc, will be the ones that fight this tooth and nail and will do everything in their power to stop it. And they are also the ones with all the money.

One thing that should be looked into if there ever is a federal boxing commission put in place would be to have the three ringside judges sitting in a private room viewing the fight on a big screen television while being supervised by a law enforcement agent of some degree. Also the boxing commission should not announce who the judges are way in advance like they do now. I think this may cut down on alot of the bull**** decisions that are given.