State officials warned about licensing ``potentially dangerous mismatch''
By TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Writer
May 31, 2000
Julio Cesar Chavez could become the first casualty of the growing chorus for boxing reform.
The former three-time champion's attempt to fight 140-pound champion Kostya Tszyu for the World Boxing Council title is under fire again, this time by the architect of the recently passed Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
U.S. Sen. John McCain warned Arizona officials Tuesday to think carefully before they approve the fight, saying many feel the proposed bout is an ``illegitimate and potentially dangerous mismatch.''
His comments came in a letter to Gov. Jane Hull, just as Chavez was to arrive in Arizona for a physical to see if he could fight in the proposed July 29 bout in Phoenix.
The Arizona Republican noted that Nevada boxing officials have already forced the bout out of Las Vegas because of concerns over the deteriorating abilities of Chavez, who will be 38 on July 12.
And the Association of Boxing Commissions has also gone on record saying the fight does not appear to be a competitive matchup.
``I believe this proposed bout raises many serious questions which I hope Arizona Boxing Commission members, as did the members of the Nevada Athletic Commission, will carefully reflect upon,'' McCain said in his letter to the governor.
Francie Noyes, Hull's spokeswoman, said the letter arrived Tuesday. ``Typically, the boxing commission handles these matters correctly, but the senator did bring it to our attention, so we will look into it,'' she said.
Promoters of the fight pulled it off a Nevada Athletic Commission agenda at the last moment earlier this month amid indications it would not be approved. The fight was originally scheduled for July 15 at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.
Chavez is to undergo a physical this week in Arizona, after which the Arizona State Boxing Commission will decide whether to approve the bout.
John Montano, the commission's executive director, said a special meeting could be called to make a decision.
``Politics aside, the most important thing is that if a boxer comes here, he has a safe environment to fight in,'' Montano said.
Chavez was beaten badly last September by journeyman Willy Wise in a non-title fight, looking nothing like a former three-time champion who was once the biggest sports attraction in Mexico.
Chavez (103-4-2) fought that bout at 146 pounds, and has not fought at 140 pounds in two years. Still, he is ranked No. 1 at the weight by the Mexico City-based World Boxing Council, a ranking that was called ``alarming'' by the president of the Association of Boxing Commissions in a letter earlier this month to the WBC.
The ranking is especially troubling to boxing officials in light of the disclosures over the purchase of rankings in the rival International Boxing Federation.
``There is no question that Mr. Chavez was a great champion and poses a Hall of Fame type of record and accomplishments,'' ABC president Greg Sirb said in his letter. ``But today the facts are that Mr. Chavez is a 37-year-old boxer who in the past year has not fought any boxer rated in the top 10 and was recently defeated by Willy Wise, a boxer not even rated in the top 10.''
Tszyu (23-1-1), a Russian who lives in Australia, holds the WBC 140-pound title and has a reputation as one of the sport's fiercest body punchers.
updated at Tue May 30 22:44:19 2000 PT |
