Board get serious with promoters

LOCAL professional boxing promoters will find it increasingly difficult to stage cards in Trinidad and Tobago in the future. This follows a directive from chairman of the Boxing Board of Control, Melchoir Taylor that no concessions will be granted and promoters must fulfill all the requirements to have their bouts sanctioned. He said the Cabinet-appointed body was forced to take a hard line after serious criticisms were fired at the newly appointed outfit following a Pro-Am presentation in Chaguanas promoted by Fine Line Gym and Cosmic Boxing. Taylor, a former world-rated referee with several decades experience in the sport, admitted that the board did not strictly apply the conditions necessary for the card. He said in future his officers will be very careful and scrutinise all documents and ensure all conditions are met before they give the go-ahead for promoters to proceed with their show. “We will definitely cross our Ts and dot our Is to ensure that all is in place in the future because our reputation is at stake,” said Taylor. The board was forced to take drastic action after several boxers complained that they had not been paid despite the fact that the purses of the boxers must be handed in at least two weeks before the card.

Concerns were also raised about the absence of an ambulance at the fight venue in case of a medical emergency. The performance of a referee in one of the bouts was also questioned for not putting an end to the contest before it eventually was, causing the loser to absorb more punishment than he deserved. When contacted Cecil Forde, of Cosmic Boxing acknowledged that should the rules of the Boxing Board be applied across the board, it would prove to be a serious obstacle to struggling promoters. “We need the breathing space allowed us by the Boxing Board. That is the only way we can come forward with the cards and offer the opportunity for the fighters,” Forde said. The Marabella-based Forde, also vice-president of the Amateur Boxing Association pointed out that he did not expect so much negative criticism especially since the pro-am card was the first to be staged locally in close to two years. He also said the boxers were not placed in any danger because there was no ambulance at the ready outside the Chaguanas Indoor Sports Complex at Saith Park, venue for the card.
“We had three doctors ringside to attend to any emergency so we were more than prepared,” said Forde.

He said that in two of the professional bouts, the boxers were under contract with their managers while the handlers of the other two signed receipts when collecting their payment after the show. “Everything was above board. No one was robbed. So we have nothing to defend,” said Forde. He said in the past promoters would stage cards featuring boxers in their stable which reduced the financial burden of providing purse up front while giving the fighters the chance to improve their record. He also indicated that it was difficult to solicit sponsorship and when it was succesful only came mere hours before the card. But with the closer scrutiny of the board, professional boxing may have to take a forced vacation once again he feared.