21.08.05 – By Jim Amato: The sport of boxing needs a National Boxing Commission but that is easier said then done. Baseball, football, basketball and even hockey have universal rules. In my opinion, to give boxing its best chance for success the boxers would be better off forming a union. It would also be better to keep the government out of the picture completely.. It would be very hard to do these things but in the long term, if accomplished the boxers may be able to have better medical attention as promoters should be obligated to supply more extensive pre and post fight testing. It should begin the process of setting up a pension plan. There could possibly be a record data base to verify a boxers record and to help enforce medical suspensions.
Another problem that may arise is that there are so many foreign fighters of quality who come over to the US to fight. Should they have to join the union to box in the US ? Unionizing the boxers in itself here in the U.S. would be a monumental chore. The bottom line is that something has to be done. I suggest that each state be required to have a boxing commission that operates under the jurisdiction of the National Commission. Puerto Rico and any other U.S. territory should be included in this. No Commission, no sanctioned fights.
The state commission and the fight show promoter should be required to submit all revenue from the show to the National Commission. A certain percentage of the revenue will be paid to the National Commission and should be dispersed in funds set up for pensions, medical assistance, etc.. The boxers should be required to pay dues that will also go in to funds that
will help to protect them now and hopefully help ensure them of some security in their post fight lives. In the end, the pie will be the same size but it will just be sliced a little differently. Instead of the promoters getting the lion share
of the money, the ones who spill their blood will get a fairer share of the pot. The way it should be. There will still be enough money and interest in the sport to attract individuals willing to promote shows. Impossible dream? Maybe but if baseball, football and other sports have set up collective bargaining to strengthen there position in dealing with the powers that be in their sport then why not boxing?