By Keith Terceira
This article first began to develop when we were contacted by the Bronco McKart camp asking me to look into irregularities on the fight card that took place on March 29 at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. This fight card was to take place under the oversite of the newly formed Boxing Commission of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Nation. I was provided with documents that were at best a product of bad math and at worst altered scorecards.
First in the interest of full disclosure, I have a particular interest in the political and economic concerns of the First People of both the United States and of Canada. My mother’s people can be traced to both the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia and the Caldwell Band of Potawatomis. I myself am registered Metis in Canada and am proud of my ancestry. Therefore, it was with much trepidation that I wrote this report at all because in this country what reflects badly on one tribal nation reflects badly on all.
The 1996 Ali Act which established regs that seek to protect all fighters from unscrupulous promoters, managers, and others but also sets standards of law that all including sovergn tribal nations must follow.
Here is a copy of the Safety Act and Muhammad Ali Act that pertains to the tribal nations.
§ 6312. Professional boxing matches conducted on Indian reservations
(a) Definitions
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Indian tribe
The term “Indian tribe” has the same meaning as in section 450b (e) of title 25.
(2) Reservation
The term “reservation” means the geographically defined area over which a tribal organization exercises governmental jurisdiction.
(3) Tribal organization
The term “tribal organization” has the same meaning as in section 450b (l) of title 25.
(b) Requirements
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a tribal organization of an Indian tribe may, upon the initiative of the tribal organization—
(A) Regulate professional boxing matches held within the reservation under the jurisdiction of that tribal organization; and
(B) Carry out that regulation or enter into a contract with a boxing commission to carry out that regulation.
(2) Standards and licensing
If a tribal organization regulates professional boxing matches pursuant to paragraph (1), the tribal organization shall, by tribal ordinance or resolution, establish and provide for the implementation of health and safety standards, licensing requirements, and other requirements relating to the conduct of professional boxing matches that are at least as restrictive as—
(A) The otherwise applicable standards and requirements of a State in which the reservation is located; or
(B) the most recently published version of the recommended regulatory guidelines certified and published by the Association of Boxing Commissions.
The reason I am providing this is as a point of reference as we delve into this issue.
The Saginaw Chippewa Boxing Commission ran three bouts from March 9 2007 to March 29 2008 and the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe held one at the Kewadin Casino on October 18 2007. These bouts were all held under the supervision of Bill Miley who represented himself as the commissioner of both tribes. That in itself is incorrect Mr. Miley is a contracted advisor and consultant who once functioned as an inspector in Michigan. I have provided the copies of the ABC complaint against Mr. Miley…notes of ABC Legal Committee December 12 2007
4. Boxing on tribal land "regulated" by employee of promoter:
It was brought to the attention of the ABC that professional boxing events, held on the tribal land of the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe at the Kewadin Casino, were being "regulated" (including the licensing of the participants, the review of medical examinations, the approval of the particular bouts, and the appointment of officials) by William Miley, an employee of the promoter of the event (formerly, an inspector for the Michigan Athletic Board of Control), and not by the Sault Sainte Marie tribal boxing commission.
On October 18, 2007, a boxing show was held at the Kewadin Casino; and the show was "regulated" by Mr. Miley (the promoter's employee). Among the bouts approved by Mr. Miley which were held on that evening included: (1) Hasim Rahman (44-6-2; 35 KO) (former undisputed heavy-weight champion of the world) v. Cerrone Fox (8-6-0; 4 of the losses by being KO'd) [Rahman KO'd Fox at 2:27 of the first round]; and (2) Francis McKechnai (3-14-0; all 14 loses by being KO'd or TKO'd, including his last seven bouts) v. Brian Mithar (6-0-0) [McKechnai lost by TKO at 1:33 of the second round.] Regarding the latter bout, McKechnai was under an indefinite suspension, imposed by the Indiana Boxing Commission, pending McKechnai providing the Indiana Commission with an HIV test and documentation that McKechnai's left elbow was "O.K."
A letter was sent to the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe by Tim Lueckenhoff advising the Tribe of the following provisions in the Federal Law:
A tribal organization of an Indian Tribe may regulate professional boxing matches held within the reservation under the jurisdiction of that tribal organization and: (1) carry out that regulation, or (2) enter into a contract with a boxing commission (not a promoter or the promoter's employee) to carry out that regulation [15 USC §6312(b)(1)].
· No member or employee of a boxing commission and no person who administers or enforces boxing laws may contract with any person who promotes professional boxing matches or otherwise has a financial interest in an active boxer [15 USC §6308(a)].
· If a tribal organization regulates professional boxing, the tribal organization shall, by tribal ordinance or resolution, establish and provide for the implementation of health and safety standards, licensing requirements, and other requirements related to the conduct of professional boxing matches which are at least as restrictive as: (1) otherwise applicable standards and requirements of a State in which the reservation is located; or (2) the regulatory guidelines certified and published by the ABC (including reciprocal enforcement of medical suspensions) [15 USC §6312(b)(2)].
McKart’s Camp alleges several violations of the Ali Act happened during the fight card on March 29 of this year when Marquez defeated Bronco in a majority decision and provided me with video and audio proof that indeed there was irregular behavior. One such complaint is that there were no inspectors in the locker rooms to supervise the wrapping and gloving of fighters, in fact one boxer Brandon Little wrapped and gloved in his hotel room then went directly to ringside. I found this so unbelievable that I contacted the Sag-Chip Boxing Commissioner Don Chippewa, who refused to answer any questions and referred me to tribal legal consul Richard Feeley. Seems Mr. Chippewa was in Florida on vacation on the day of the fight and had left Mr. Miley to supervise bouts.
Mr. Feeley informed me that this issue was incorrect according of course to Miley but I have three independent confirmations that this occurred .He assured me that the Saginaw Chippewa Boxing Commission had adopted verbatim the Michigan rules and guidelines but refused to supply the tribal regulations even when the offer was presented to pay the cost of copying and postal if they were not on line. In addition, it was obvious by the evidence that though the tribe adopted Michigan Rules it did not apply to the sections that involve qualifications to be a judge in Michigan.
Attorney Feeley was asked to explain the video evidence presented to me that the promoter for Marquez, Leon Margules had somehow become involved with the scoring of the bout. The video clearly shows Margules correcting the announcer and informing him of the correct scores. What is not seen on the fight video but is evident in the un-televised video is Margules leaning over the ring ropes for several minutes while Miley was tabulating the judges’ scorecards and talking to Miley. Feeley had no such information and continued to state that the Saginaw Chippewa Nation was sovereign outside the federal regulations.
When asked why during the fighters instruction the referee informed the boxers that the tribe would not be following the state of Michigan rules and regulations but would be “basically following the ABC rules and guidelines” he again asserted that this matter was under investigation. Feeley also had no reply to the question of whether or not the bout was regulated by the tribal commission as mandated by federal law and instead was regulated by a consultant paid by the promoter. Feeley insisted that Miley was paid by the Tribe but that still is in violation. Miley is free to advise and consult but oversight is in the realm of the commission itself.
When instructed that dangerous mismatched fights occurred on tribal cards Mr. Feeley ended our discussion by stating he would investigate the matter.
Let us view some of the fights that were approved by Bill Miley…
After David Tua KO’d Cerrone Fox in the second round of the Miley supervised card on September 7th 2007 he was so impressed with the performance it seemed that he jeopardized the 8-8 Fox’s health by approving Fox for the 43-6-2 (35 ko) Hasim Rahman just over a month later (Oct 18th) ..
Rahman had also fought on the September 7 show at the Soaring Eagle stopping Dicky Ryan in the second round. Dicky Ryan is a great person and I was present at his fourth round loss in 2006 to. Shannon Briggs. During the Briggs bout, I worked the locker room for the Arkansas Athletic Commission and I can tell you that Ryan had been retired until offered the Briggs bout and he is dangerously close to having permanent physical problems and I was so concerned about it in 2006 that I brought it to the attention of the commission. Ryan who took such a devastating knock out was prevented from flying home that night by the ringside doctor. Any commissioner speaking to Ryan would have problems approving him for any more bouts not based on his age of 40 but on his speech and mannerisms, Miley had no such hesitance.
Tyrone Brunson 18-0 was allowed to set his so called record of 19 straight first round Ko’s on Francis McKechnai 3-14 who was coming off 7 straight ko’s and on March 9th 2007 at the Soaring Eagle Brunson was again given a gift by being allowed to take on Dan Johnson who was 1-6 coming off being knocked out in four of his last five bouts and still under Indiana suspension Brunson at the time was 14-0 … Brunson’s promoter should be ashamed for not only feeding Tyrone a steady diet of mismatches but in risking his opponents lives if Brunson is so dangerous. How much concern does this promoter have for his own fighter if he would risk Tyrone mental health should one of his opponents refuses to be stopped and dies in the effort?
ABC President Tim Lueckenhoff expressed his frustrations with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe in an interview yesterday by stating.
“I wrote a letter to the Tribal Chief Cantu and have been ignored. In that letter, I advised them of their violations of federal law by the way they are doing business. “
Lueckenhoff is shocked by the blatant disregard the Tribal Boxing commission has for Boxer Safety Regulations and the fact that the tribal commission has allowed fighters to box that were under suspension.
“If I could find a U.S. Attorney that would prosecute this matter I would set an example of them, problem is that though what they do is a violation and a crime the Attorney General refuses to put any teeth into the Ali Act. Perhaps more articles in the press can shame this tribe into compliance. Bill Miley needs to get a job as an inspector somewhere; he is obviously not qualified to act as a commissioner.”
Personally, I have decided as UBC North American Chairman to ban any championship bouts at the Soaring Eagle Casino until the Saginaw Chippewa Boxing Commission provides a copy of its Rules, Regulations, and bylaws. Also it needs to supply a copy of the judges score cards (not Summary sheets) for the McKart -Marquez bout, a list of the inspectors used for the March 29th card and proof that Bill Miley is a seated member of the SAG-Chip Boxing Commission an entitled to as such to control the licensing and supervise bouts at Soaring Eagle. In addition, I am asking that the tribe set up a web site area where people can view the tribal regulations, the medical requirements, and the officers of the commission, until that transparency occurs I will ask that our boxers stand clear of the Soaring Eagle.
As the Mid-South representive for the RBF, I am forwarding this article to the Retired Boxer Foundation asking Alex Ramos and Jacquie Richardson to support a boycott of the Soaring Eagle. The RBF should consider using its extensive database to warn boxers until the Saginaw Chippewa Boxing Commission can produce evidence that they respect boxer safety, the Ali Act, Suspensions, and can employ people who have the knowledge to fulfill federal laws.
Email Comments To Kterceira@aol.com