Del Papa orders boxing probe

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999 | 11:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa Wednesday assigned two deputies to investigate boxing's sanctioning organizations after bribery charges were brought in New Jersey against officials of the International Boxing Federation.

Del Papa named Chief Deputy Attorney General Kirk Hendrick and Deputy Attorney General Keith Kizer to help the Nevada Athletic Commission in taking a look at these organizations.

The IBF officials were accused of rigging the ratings of boxers in order to promote championship and other major fights. They allegedly would accept bribes to upgrade the ranking of a boxer so he qualified for a title fight.

Hendrick said there is "hearsay" that some of those fights may have taken place in Nevada. But there is no allegation any Nevada official was involved in any wrongdoing.

The IBF, the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Association all produce ratings of boxers. They collect 3 percent of the purse of each fighter in a title bout. The IBF is the only sanctioning body that is a for-profit organization, said Hendrick. The other two are nonprofits.

He said the investigation will take a look at how these organizations spend their money. The corporate structures of the bodies will also be examined.

Hendrick said he and Kizer would keep close tabs on the New Jersey criminal case to gather information in their investigation.

The rating organizations are not licensed by the state. But the Athletic Commission licenses boxers, managers and promoters, and the attorney general's office wants to look at the ties between those persons and the groups.

Del Papa said Hendrick and Kizer have been working with the National Association of Attorneys General since last year identify existing problems, and proposing recommendations to reform the boxing industry throughout the country.

"Boxing is a very important element of our state's tourism industry," Dr. Elias Ghanem, chairman of the Athletic Commission, said. "Therefore, this commission must ensure that everyone associated with the boxing industry is above reproach."