Boxers Union to Begin Talks with CKP Productions Kushner is First Promoter to Meet with JAB

May 15, Las Vegas — Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, founder of the Teamster affiliated Joint Association of Boxers, said today that the union will begin talks with CKP Productions and Cedric Kushner this week in Las Vegas.

According to Muhammad, “When Mr. Kushner heard of our desire to form a union that would set standards in our industry he was receptive and said he was willing to sit down and talk. We take it as a very positive sign that a promoter of Kushner’s caliber is prepared to recognize our union.”

According to JAB, the majority of CKP’s fighters have signed JAB authorization cards.

“The purpose of our meetings with Kushner and other promoters is to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would establish minimum standards for the sport of boxing and that, we believe, would help the boxing industry move to a new level of integrity. Our strategy is to sign up a majority of professional fighters, have promoters recognize our union, and negotiate a standard collective bargaining agreement.” said Muhammad.

KUSHNER MEETS WITH HOFFA, TEAMSTERS REGARDING JAB

Boxing promoter Cedric Kushner has met with James P. Hoffa, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, several times this week in Las Vegas to discuss the newly formed boxers' union, the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB).

The Teamsters announced its association with JAB last week in Washington, D.C., and Hoffa reaffirmed that affiliation during a news conference in behalf of JAB Monday in Las Vegas.

"I think the concept and JAB are good for fighters as well as the sport of boxing," said Kushner, chairman of the board of Cedric Kushner Promotions of New York City.

"I had a very constructive meeting with Mr. Hoffa and the JAB leadership," said Kushner. "I'm prepared to continue the dialogue and in the most positive spirt."

Muhammad says JAB's goals are to negotiate an industry-wide collective bargaining agreement with boxing promoters and provide boxers with pensions and insurance.