honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Hawai'i amateur boxing KO'd

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the first time since it was legalized 76 years ago, amateur boxing was shut down in Hawai'i yesterday.

"All amateur boxing will cease and you should inform each of your clubs that they should not hold any illegal boxing contests," Willes K. Lee, chairman of the Hawai'i State Boxing Commission, instructed Ralph Martin, president of the USA Boxing Hawai'i chapter during the commission's meeting.

The commission took the action until USA Boxing, which it had only recently discovered had been operating without a promoter's license, is re-licensed. Martin said he hopes to secure the necessary $5,000 bond shortly and complete the paperwork this week.

Commission officials said a meeting to review the application and USA Boxing's annual financial report could be scheduled "from a week to 10 days" after the completed application was submitted.

Until then, boxing officials said about 10 to 15 amateur clubs, with a total of about 200 boxers, may train but are not permitted to take part in shows or tournaments.

The first major event that could be impacted is BayFest 2005 at Marine Corps Base Kane'ohe, where USA Boxing was to head a July 2 card as part of the Fourth of July weekend festivities. Commission officials said if the ban remains until then, only military and PAL boxers would be permitted to continue.

Lee said all major championships have already been held for the year and he urged fighters to continue to train until USA Boxing regains its license.

"You'd hate to see somebody get injured or something happen to hurt boxing, so the commission is doing what they need to do," said Fred Perreira, coach of the Wai'anae Boxing Club.

"I think this is the best decision they have ever made," said Carl Phillips, coach of the Wahiawa Boxing Club, who, with a lawsuit pending, is one of several coaches at odds with Martin and USA officials.

In taking a closer look at amateur boxing, which has recently been beset by internal strife, Lee said the commission discovered that USA Boxing had neither been licensed nor submitted an annual financial report for two years.

"With all this going on, the commission is saying, 'Hey, go back and make them follow the rules,' " said Bobby Lee, who was attending his first meeting after being sworn in as a new commissioner. "It is an embarrassment to the commission to have allowed them to put on shows if they never had a license."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.