California commission's push for sponsor-backed pension funds silenced for now
CSACThe novel push by the California State Athletic Commission to boost the state fighter pension by accepting advertising on the backs of referee shirts has been denied by a bureaucratic maneuver to squelch the effort to make it law.
Despite the support of the commission, fighters including Ronda Rousey and the unanimous passage through two policy committees, California Assembly Bill 2130 was parked in the Suspense File and will not be voted upon this year.
BoxingScene has learned officials are currently plotting alternative methods that will allow corporate donations to California’s fighter pension fund, which has distributed several payments to veteran fighters who previously fought in the state.
In a March presentation campaigning for the bill’s passage, athletic commission officials projected that if they could generate $1 million in annual advertising for the next 20 years, the pension would gain $25.4 million to distribute $100,000 to $300,000 to boxers age 50 and older.
Boxers who’ve compiled 75 rounds and MMA fighters who’ve totaled 39 rounds of action in California are eligible for pension payments.
Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) crafted the bill, and Governor Gavin Newsom expressed support for it.
Newsom could’ve signed it into law as early as the new year had the bill avoided the Suspense File fate.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.