There goes da judge — Tabat quits

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

As a boxing judge for almost 30 years, Lou Tabat has scored 141 title fights around the world.

Still averaging four or five title fights a year, the former North Las Vegas constable has had boxing assignments that have taken him to Tokyo, Paris and Bangkok just in the past year.

He's also a renowned amateur boxing judge who has worked Olympic Games and has been certified as a "master" judge by USA Boxing.

He has quality credentials in both boxing and public service, having won six races for constable and holding that position for 24 years before retiring in 1998.

But as of a letter dated Nov. 11 and received by Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner last week, Tabat has resigned from the NSAC staff of officials in protest of what he feels is inadequate treatment and the "inequities" of the process for selecting officials for major fights.

He's 76 and says he's in fine health, and he can't understand why his last world-title fight in Las Vegas was five years ago.

"You work yourself hard to get to the top and you're honored to be getting assignments around the world, but the people running the sport in my own state have chopped me down," Tabat said Monday. "I know what's going on. There's a buddy-buddy system in place here and I haven't been part of it for some time."

He says "at least 60 percent" of the NSAC's 22 judges "are unhappy that they're not getting the chance to work any big fights, but they're scared of saying what they think for fear of getting cut."

While the NSAC once used a rotation system in assigning officials to fights, the process has become more select. Presently, a half dozen officials are regarded as "A" level and get the plum assignments, while the others work undercard fights and the occasional minor title bout.

Ratner said Tabat worked 15 cards in 1999 and earned $3,600.

Tabat's complaint isn't with the number of assignments he has received, but with the quality of the fights (which influences what the judges are paid).

"It's a question of honor," Tabat said. "I used to work a lot of world-title fights here but then I had a falling out with the (late) executive director, Chuck Minker. Things haven't been the same since.

"I've been pushed aside and I'd like an explanation why, but no one will give me one."

Tabat said Ratner had not responded to his resignation, although Ratner said he is in receipt of the letter.

"I feel bad for Lou but I think he wants me to beg him to come back and I'm not going to do it," Ratner said. "If he wants to resign, it's up to him."

In his resignation letter, Tabat admits he has lost interest in scoring four-round fights and expresses the view that Ratner has become a "hatchet man" for the NSAC.

"Lou is a good judge and he's one of the finest amateur judges in the world," Ratner said. "But he's not one of our top six or seven judges and that's why he's not getting the big fights."

Ratner, who also works as a college football official, likened Tabat's complaint to one of his own.

"I've been a Division-I official for 13 years and I haven't been picked to do a bowl game yet," he said. "I think I deserve a bowl game, but it hasn't happened. Does that mean I'm going to quit?"

Ratner meets with each of his judges annually in January to discuss and review their boxing careers. He said he is not aware of any widespread complaints.

Tabat, who also officiated local football, baseball and softball games for 24 years, maintains he has never been given an adequate explanation for losing his "A" status.

"I'd like to know what's holding me back," he said. "When I'd ask Marc about it, he'd always say he didn't have control of it and blamed it on the commission -- but I know that's a bad statement. I'd like an explanation that breaks down where I've gone wrong."

Tabat is altering his focus and would like to be appointed to the commission when a spot comes open. He has sent a letter to Gov. Kenny Guinn to express his views, although his interest in a commission spot dates from an application he sent to then-governor Richard Bryan a decade ago.

"The Nevada commission has become complacent," Tabat said, "and when you become complacent you become dictatorial. I'd like to get on the commission and try to change a few things, but it seems like anyone appointed these days is because the governor is returning a favor."

If he is through judging fights in Nevada, at least Tabat has no shortage of fond memories.

"I've had plenty of big fights here," he said. "My favorite was Ken Norton and Larry Holmes (June 9, 1978 at Caesars Palace). Each of the judges had the fight even after 14 rounds, then two of them scored the 15th for Holmes and I scored it for Norton.

"But I never heard any complaints about my scoring on that fight or any other. I don't think my ability has anything to do with me not getting the big fights anymore."