By Michael Marley
She was overqualified for the job in the first place but I don't think that when she was named head of the New York State Athletic Commission by then Gov. David Paterson, Melvina Lathan ever thought it turn into a "pro bono" position sans pay.
But, unless she will toil for free, Lathan's reign as chairperson at NYSAC (she was approved for a second three year term last April 27) has ended.
And not for anything she did or didn't do. The veteran fight judge, who adroitly called 82 world title bouts across 10 countries, is a victim of the brutal numbers game that incoming Gov. Andrew Cuomo is forced to play.
With a $10 billion budget deficit, Cuomo is giving up to 10,000 state workers their walking papers.
Legendary Paul Bunyan never carried an axe as sharp as the one Cuomo must wield.
I'm trying to look on the positive side for boxing here. We've probably regained one of the Top Ten or maybe Top Five world championship bout judges. Any assignment she gets blocks out some of the incompetent clowns who somehow get such plum assignments. They know who they are.
I would think ex-heavyweight Joe Mesi, who has been an unpaid NYSAC deputy based in Buffalo since Oct. 10 of last year, would gain influence. Mesi, whose 36-0 career was halted by bleeding on the brain, sued the boxing board and I'm told his pro bono position was given in exchange for dropping a lawsuit against NYSAC.
The good news?
Ms. Lathan will still be at ringside doing what she does best.