MARYLAND STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION
MINUTES - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009
The Thursday, February 26, 2009 meeting of the Maryland State Athletic
Commission was called to order at 3:15 p.m.. Present were: Chairman David J.
Norman, Commissioner Ben Alperstein; Commissioner Arnold “Arnie” Dansicker;
Commissioner William R. “Bill” McCaffrey; Commissioner Lenny Moore; Patrick
Pannella, Executive Director; Bruce C. Spizler, Senior Assistant Attorney General;
and Michelle Martin, Administrative Assistant.
APPROVAL OF COMMISSION MINUTES
The January 22, 2009 Minutes of the Maryland State Athletic Commission, which
were previously distributed to all Commission members for review, were discussed.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Alperstein, and seconded by Commissioner
McCaffrey, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the January 22,
2009 Minutes of the Commission.
DLLR “LEGISLATIVE POLICY”
Executive Director Pannella distributed to Commission members a Memorandum
(dated January 30, 2009) from Thomas E. Perez, Secretary of the Maryland
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), in regard to DLLR’s
“Legislative Policy” defining the perimeters of board members’ legislative activity.
APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL BOXING EVENTS
AND PRO-AM BOXING EVENTS
Executive Director Pannella led a Commission discussion in regard to the
professional boxing events and pro-am boxing events currently scheduled to be held
in the year 2009.
Mr. Pannella stated that, although the Commission had previously sanctioned
another professional boxing event to be held on June 18, 2009, the Commission
inadvertently sanctioned a professional boxing event to be promoted by Murray
1
“Jake” Smith for the same June 18, 2009 date. Mr. Pannella noted that he was
informed by Mr. Smith that the venue slated to hold Mr. Smith’s June 18, 2009
boxing event only had one other open date available in the month of June, 2009 -June 4, 2009. Mr. Pannella also noted that the Commission had previously
sanctioned another professional boxing event to be held on June 5, 2009.
Citing the circumstances created by a clerical error of the Commission and, after
receiving assurances from Mr. Pannella that special administrative arrangements
could be made to conduct the boxing weigh-in activity for the June 5, 2009 boxing
event on the same evening of the proposed June 4, 2009 boxing event, the
Commission granted permission for the June 4, 2009 boxing event to be considered
for approval.
Upon a motion by Commissioner McCaffrey, and seconded by Commissioner
Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the following
boxing events:
Friday, March 19, 2009 - 8:00 p.m. (Professional Boxing Event)
Promoter: Murray “Jake” Smith / Baltimore Pro Boxing
Martin’s West - Woodlawn, Maryland
(Replaces March 19, 2009 Pro-Am Boxing Event);
Friday, April 10, 2009 - 8:00 p.m. (Pro-Am Boxing Event)
Promoter: Murray “Jake” Smith / Baltimore Pro Boxing
Clarence “Du” Burns Arena - Baltimore, Maryland
(Replaces April 4, 2009 Pro-Am Boxing Event);
Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 8:00 p.m. (Pro-Am Boxing Event)
Promoter: Murray “Jake” Smith / Baltimore Pro Boxing
Martin’s West - Woodlawn, Maryland
(Replaces June 18, 2009 Pro-Am Boxing Event); and
Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 8:00 p.m. (Pro-Am Boxing Event)
Promoter: Murray “Jake” Smith / Baltimore Pro Boxing
Clarence “Du” Burns Arena - Baltimore, Maryland.
2
APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING EVENTS
Executive Director Pannella led a Commission discussion in regard to the
professional wrestling events currently scheduled to be held in the State of
Maryland in the months of February and March, 2009.
Upon a motion by Commissioner McCaffrey, and seconded by Commissioner
Dansicker, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the following
professional wrestling events:
Professional Wrestling Event
Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.
Promoter: Richard “Dick” Caricofe / Maryland Championship Wrestling
(MCW)
The New Green Room - Dundalk, Maryland; and
Professional Wrestling Event
Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Raindate: Saturday, May 2, 2009 - 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Promoter: James “Jim” Hardwick / Eastern Wrestling Alliance (EWA)
JD Byrider Auto Sales - Glen Burnie, Maryland.
PROPOSED FEDERAL BOXING LEGISLATION
Senior Assistant Attorney General Spizler provided the Commission with an update
regarding the status of Federal boxing legislation currently being proposed in the
United States Congress, sponsored by United States Senators John McCain and
Byron Dorgan in the United States Senate and Congressman Peter King in the
United States House of Representatives, which, among other things, would provide
for a national oversight of professional boxing via the creation of a United States
Boxing Commission; bringing uniformity and effective enforcement to the sport in
the United States. Mr. Spizler noted that the legislation provides for the licensing
and regulation of sanctioning organizations in professional boxing and, among
other things, would require such organizations to formally adopt, and adhere to,
prescribed criteria set forth by the United States Boxing Commission regarding the
ranking of professional boxers.
3
Mr. Spizler and Executive Director Pannella reported that, as the Commission had
directed them to do at its January 22, 2009 meeting, they were working to prepare a
synopsis of the Federal boxing legislation currently being proposed in the United
States Congress to send such a synopsis, together with a notation of the
Commission’s support of the same, to the DLLR Office of the Secretary for its
review and consideration.
“CALCULATING THE RISK…” NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
Executive Director Pannella provided the Commission with an article written by
Thom Loverro and published in The Washington Times about the “Prospective
Longitudinal Study of Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury (CTBI) in Professional
Boxers”, which continues to be conducted at professional boxing weigh-ins held in
the State of Maryland under the direction of Dr. John W. Stiller (the Commission’s
chief ringside physician) and which now includes over 225 boxers who voluntarily
participate in this long-term study. Mr. Pannella noted that the article discusses the
positive impact and “useful results” which this study could potentially have on
other contact sports such as professional football.
SCHEDULING AND APPROVAL OF EVENTS
Chairman Norman led a Commission discussion regarding the scheduling of future
boxing, kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events proposed by licensed
promoters and, in particular: 1. the need for the Commission to set policy to ensure
that an adequate number of Commission staff members are available to carry out
their various regulatory responsibilities at each Commission-sanctioned event; and
2. the need for the Commission to set policy to determine how far in the future a
promoter may schedule an event so that the date for a respective event does not
change as frequently as is now occurring, and so that all promoters are treated fairly
and equally when applying to have an event sanctioned by the Commission.
Executive Director noted that each Commission-sanctioned boxing, kickboxing or
MMA event is preceded by a weigh-in activity usually occurring the evening before
an event.
4
Executive Director Pannella opined that Commission-sanctioned professional
wrestling events require a very limited number of Commission staff members to
effectively regulate each event and, as a result, should not be subjected to the same
scheduling limitations as Commission-sanctioned boxing, kickboxing or MMA
events.
Chairman Norman and Commissioner Dansicker expressed concerns that the
Commission would not be in a position to effectively regulate the sports of boxing,
kickboxing and MMA if the Commission approved events involving these
respective sports scheduled to occur either on the same day or on consecutive days.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Dansicker, and seconded by Commissioner
Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to set a Commission policy
stipulating that the Commission will not allow any boxing, kickboxing and MMA
event held in the State of Maryland and proposed in the future to occur on the same
date or on consecutive dates.
The Commission members expressed their desire not to prevent a promoter from
being able to promote a series of Commission-sanctioned boxing, kickboxing or
MMA events scheduled to occur over a period of several months.
Upon a motion by Commissioner McCaffrey, and seconded by Commissioner
Alperstein, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to set a Commission policy
stipulating that any boxing, kickboxing or MMA event proposed in the future and
scheduled to occur in the State of Maryland more than 120 days from the date when
a licensed promoter applies to the Commission for sanctioning must be
accompanied with an event contract executed by the promoter and the venue where
the event is scheduled to occur.
AMATEUR BOXING COMPLAINT
Executive Director Pannella and Senior Assistant Attorney General Spizler led a
Commission discussion regarding a complaint recently sent to the Commission via
e-mail by a constituent in regard to the regulation of the Golden Gloves amateur
boxing tournament held at the Sugar Ray Leonard Gym in Palmer Park, Maryland
on February 21, 2009.
5
The Commission determined that, because amateur boxing conducted in the State of
Maryland under the supervision of a nationally-recognized amateur organization is
exempt from Commission regulation by Maryland law, it would not take any action
concerning this complaint other than to notify the constituent in writing of his right,
if the constituent so chooses, to contact USA Boxing , Inc. -- the nationally
recognized amateur organization responsible for regulating the February 21, 2009
amateur boxing event.
REVIEW OF JANUARY 23, 2009
PRO-AM BOXING EVENT
Commissioner Moore and Executive Director Pannella led a review of the January
23, 2009 professional boxing event which was promoted by Murray “Jake” Smith
and held at Martin’s West in Woodlawn, Maryland.
REVIEW OF FEBRUARY 6, 2009
PROESSIONAL BOXING EVENT
Chairman Norman and Executive Director Pannella led a review of the February 6,
2009 professional boxing event which was promoted by Prize Fight Promotions,
LLC and held at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland.
The review included a discussion pertaining to the weigh-in activity which occurred
the evening before the boxing show. Chairman Norman noted that the two main
bouts for the boxing event were broadcast live on the ESPN 2 television network.
REVIEW OF FEBRUARY 20, 2009
PROESSIONAL BOXING EVENT
Executive Director Pannella led a review of the February 6, 2009 professional
boxing event which was promoted by the Maryland Boxing Club, Inc. and held at
the Carroll County Agriculture Center’s Shipley Arena in Westminster, Maryland.
BOXERS’ CORNERMEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE RING
Chairman Norman led a Commission discussion regarding certain instances where,
6
during a Commission-sanctioned professional boxing event, a licensed second or
manager working the corner of a boxer elected to enter or exit the boxing ring
during the period of time between rounds or immediately after the bout in a manner
other than utilizing the corner steps.
Upon a motion by Commissioner McCaffrey, and seconded by Commissioner
Dansicker, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to set a Commission policy
stipulating that all licensed seconds and managers who are working the corner of a
boxer shall only enter or exit the boxing ring by utilizing the corner steps.
COMMISSION’S OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN SCALE
Executive Director Pannella led a Commission discussion in regard to the most
appropriate weigh-in scale for the Commission to utilize when officially weighing
in boxers, kickboxers and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) contestants competing in
Commission-sanctioned contests. The discussion included a comparison between
digital and mechanical scales. Mr. Pannella stated that he would be conducting
additional research pertaining to weigh-in scales being utilized by other athletic
commissions, and would be providing a report to the Commission at the next
scheduled Commission meeting.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
Executive Director Pannella announced that the next Commission meeting will be
held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. in the Third Floor Conference
Room, 500 North Calvert Street in Baltimore.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon a motion by Commissioner Alperstein, and seconded by Commissioner
McCaffrey, the Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to adjourn the meeting at
4:57 p.m..
7