Guinn getting bill on boxing licenses

Friday, May 25, 2001 | 11:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada State Athletic Commission will receive the authority to license some of the biggest power brokers in boxing under a bill approved by the Senate Thursday.

Assembly Bill 446, which goes to the governor, permits the commission to license world boxing sanctioning organizations and television networks that have become boxing promoters.

Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, said the bill was sought by the commission to help ensure that fight purses are distributed fairly.

The state attorney general's office presented a study of the sanctioning organizations to the athletic commission earlier this year. It came on the heels of criminal indictments against persons associated with the International Boxing Federation.

That study led to fines and license conditions imposed on promoters Top Rank, Inc., and Cedric Kushner Promotions.

The survey by Attorney General Investigator Jim Freeman showed that from 1996 to 2000 five of the organizations sanctioned 124 title bouts in Nevada. And Nevada licensees paid about $8.8 million to these groups.

The International Boxing Federation did not respond to inquiries on how much it received in sanctioning fees in Nevada.

The commission said this discretionary licensing also would permit the imposition of fees on the sanctioning groups and television networks.

The study said many sanctioning organizations request or require that a supervisor be sitting ringside to verify the compilation of the judges' scores. But the commission said too often there are several persons at ringside.

"This may create an unacceptable situation where an informed party (with a vested interest in the outcome of a fight) could divulge the judges' scores during the course of the bout. Such action could cause a change in the strategy of one of the fighters," said the study.

The commission, if Gov. Kenny Guinn signs the bill, would be able to pass a regulation to require only one representative from each organization at ringside and to see the scores.

The Senate also gave final legislative approval to Assembly Bill 253 that would require sports agents who represent college athletes to register in Nevada with the secretary of state.

The bill would require an agent to give the athletic director of a school notice within 72 hours that the college student has signed a contract. And the student-athlete could cancel the contract with the agent within 14 days after it is signed.

If the agent violates the terms of the new law, he or she could be fined up to $25,000.