Show petent medical exam he got a fight on one clay’s notice in Cedar City Utah Rone came into die ' ring grotesquely out of shape In the first round he was so unsteady that his opponent Billy Zum-bru- n whispered in his ear “Are you OK?” Rone collapsed at the end of the first round and was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital Several days later there was a double funeral for Rone and his mother back in Ohio A foundation run by trainer and TV commentator Teddy Adas paid most of die death expenses Ml Mitchell Rom (r) told tho FBI ho wm offered $5000 to throw this 1995 fight with Eric "Butterboati” Esch Rom deims he had trouble getting fights after he beat Butterbeen opponents Among them is Murad Muhammad who promoted many of Roy Jones Jr’s championship fights “You can’t change 100 years of tradition” Muhammad say But most of us who have loved die fight game believe we are at a will either have a national commis- The Fix Is In l“l“The judging in many fights is disgraceful” mer light heavyweight champion and former crossroads: We chairman of New York’s boxing commission “The sion or else boxing will be driven underground rest are worthless There should be a single na’ Be IMIShould tional commission to govern boxing” Now there is hope for boxing reform On IKrBoxing will never completely die” Lou Di- March 31 the US Senate passed a Bella believes “because violence and sex are in bill by Sen John McCain (R Ariz) propie’s blood” In the recent investigation If boxing goes underground it will become creating the United States Boxing Administration The bill gives this human cockfighting Should we as a society care? heavyweight Mitchell Rose told DwSi 1 FBI agents that employees of Top national commission the power to grew up in a poor Brooklyn neighborhood' enforce uniform health and safety where fighters were respected The fighters I have Rank offered him $5000 to throw his Madison Square Garden fight 7 standards and to establish a central-- come to know as a writer generally have been PCVOdl -ized medical registry more honorable and likable than polititians with Eric “Butterbean” Esch in I see the brutality and the corruption of the “I have derived great pleasure 1995 Esch was being bulk up by Bob Arum and had a cult follow- from boxing over the years” says spurt but I also see the balletic grace the uuSII Senator McCain who was a boxer courage and die intelligence behind it Boxing is ing Rose fought to win and himself as an undergraduate at the the raw narrative drama of physical conflict Esch with a technical stopped US Naval Academy“But 1 continue with a hero and a loser : knockout in the second rouncL On its rare best nights fights like the ones beRose claims he was blacklisted after that fight to be disgusted by recurring scandals and corrupFBI agents have been investigating boxer tion Boxing desperately needs strict regulation” tween Ali and Frazier can reveal character and The bill is now pending in die House where will and bravery that can be as uplifting as a Verdell Smith about taking dives Smith has a record of 41 wins and 73 losses and is considered a its chief sponsor is Rep Peter King (R NY) symphony or a play: As former heavyweight surveil-lancbill e k “I’m optimistic we can this and champ George Foreman says “Boxing is the stiff by some in the trade He wu under in the FBI sting operation enact it this session” King says sport that all other sports aspire to be” But even I have reached the point where I don’t The idea of a national commission has its says Lou DiBella “The judges are paid by the promoters and picked by the ratings organizations Judges know the unspoken agenda It’s the equivalent of George Steinbrenner picking the umpires for a playoff game with the Red Sox On its : Saved? Boxing rare hnnf nijrltfn lllglllS ffipcnnrt I UC Q3f Cn3r3Ct6r 'griff ” 9nrl “HU hrVQIV - ' fast-trac- The chorus asking "Can boxing be saved?” has been getting louder ever since the FBI’s sting went public Many critics believe a national regulatory commission is the only way to save the sport Other sports robustly regulate themselves The NCAA polices recruiting abuses in college sports Major league baseball banned Fete Rose for gambling on games But boxing has had no central authority that can dean its own house “Only two or three of the state commissions are any good” says Jose Torres the for PAJtADt Mar 2 2004 PAGE 7 want to watch boxing any-- 1 more unless it is cleaned up : and the rights and safety of die fighters are protected IB WKaVsffour gOpimonfj Do you bsiievo boxing should bo Improved through tho creation of a US Boxing Administration as sat Bob Arum Hk Top Rank Company the secondtorgeet fight i premotor in the UX— ' ksaid to be the subject of an FW sting operation Don King lfce sport's higheebprefile premotor King ouneatfy ki being Med by both IwmaK Lewk end Mho Ms former efient Lou DiBella Once chief of HOD'S boring riridoiwDiBela knows promotar who wyes oreetion of notions! conunkrine to dees np the (port out in bill S275 or that the sport Is fine the way it is? Whatsvsr your view let your Representative know To find his or her name and address go to wwwparsdecom and dick on “Webtinks'' where you also will find more on boxing today |