Athletic Commission suspends Californian

Friday, March 14, 2003 | 10:12 a.m.

Robert Green, a professional fighter from Southern California, was suspended for a calendar year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission at its Thursday meeting.

Green, a cruiserweight with a record of 3-3-3, was also fined $1,200, which is the amount he was to have been paid for a Feb. 28 fight with Dewey Cooper at the Orleans. Green was suspended and fined for assaulting referee Toby Gibson following the fight with Cooper, which Green lost by majority decision.

"We can't condone that type of behavior," NSAC executive director Marc Ratner said of the penalties given to Green.

In another boxing note, Top Rank has announced that injuries to Jorge Paez and Jose Luis Castillo have knocked them from spots on its March 22 card at Mandalay Bay. Paez was to have fought Jesus Chavez, but will be replaced by Carlos Gerena. Castillo was to have fought Julio Diaz.

Committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., sponsor of the legislation, said it would restore integrity to the sport.

McCain has criticized fight promoters for taking advantage of young boxers and chastised state boxing commissions for conflicts of interests and for not ensuring the objectivity of fight judges.

His bill would establish a United States Boxing Administration within the Labor Department. It would license professional boxers, promoters, managers and sanctioning organizations.