Tag: nevada state athletic commission

Nevada still isn’t getting instant replay right

The Nevada State Athletic Commission should be applauded for using instant replay but fight action shouldn’t be interrupted in the process.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission instituted instant replay for combat sports about a decade ago.

Keith Kizer, the NSAC’s Executive Director at the time, made one thing clear: Replay would be used during the fight but the action itself would never be interrupted. He and the commissioners understood the importance of maintaining the structure of the sport, three minutes of fighting and one minute of rest. Timeouts were allowed only when fighter safety was an issue.

Kizer, a smart guy, and the commissioners at had it right. Current NSAC officials, who have expanded the process, have it wrong.

The NSAC employed instant replay during the Arnold Barboza Jr.-Alex Saucedo fight on the Teofimo Lopez-Vasiliy Lomachenko card Saturday in Las Vegas. Referee Celestino Ruiz ruled a slip when Barboza went down from a punch in Round 7.

The replay official, former referee Joe Cortez, knew better. He turned on a yellow light to indicate the referee’s ruling is under review and Ruiz stopped the action. Cortez informed Ruiz that Saucedo should’ve been credited with a knock down, the call was corrected and the corners were informed of the reversal.

All that is fine. Instant replay is used in an effort to get it right. And that’s what happened.

Here’s the problem: There was no reason whatsoever to stop the action to make the correction. Cortez could’ve waited until the end of the round to confer with Ruiz, who then could’ve informed the fighters of the ruling while they sat on their stools.

What did stopping the action accomplish? Was either fighter going to change his strategy or the way he was fighting because of the correction? Of course not.

One could argue that a fighter might change his or her tactics if that happened late in a close contest, although fighters aren’t apprised of the official scoring until the bout is over. Another possible example: The wrong call on whether a cut was caused by a punch or head butt could lead the injured fighter to coast when he should’ve been attacking or vice versa.

I acknowledge that there is no perfect approach to instant replay. However, in my opinion, the correction can almost always wait a minute or two – whatever time remains on the clock — until the end of the round to maintain the flow of the fight.

We’re frustrated when a tired or injured fighter purposely spits out his mouthpiece to buy time by forcing the referee to stop the action. We’re annoyed when the ref has to call a time-out because of loose tape on a fighter’s glove.

Why? Because it disrupts the flow of the fight.

And while stopping the action for instant replay can result in the correct call, as it did in the Barboza-Saucedo fight, it can also impact the fight in other ways. For example, it could give a tired or injured fighter extra time to recover. That’s not right. Boxing is not like football or baseball, which stops and starts anyway.

Nevada and other jurisdictions are on the right track by using instant replay. Again, it’s important to get these calls correct. The point here is that you don’t have to stop the action – which fundamentally changes the sport – to get that done.

[lawrence-related id=14772]

Nevada still isn’t getting instant replay right

The Nevada State Athletic Commission should be applauded for using instant replay but fight action shouldn’t be interrupted in the process.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission instituted instant replay for combat sports about a decade ago.

Keith Kizer, the NSAC’s Executive Director at the time, made one thing clear: Replay would be used during the fight but the action itself would never be interrupted. He and the commissioners understood the importance of maintaining the structure of the sport, three minutes of fighting and one minute of rest. Timeouts were allowed only when fighter safety was an issue.

Kizer, a smart guy, and the commissioners at had it right. Current NSAC officials, who have expanded the process, have it wrong.

The NSAC employed instant replay during the Arnold Barboza Jr.-Alex Saucedo fight on the Teofimo Lopez-Vasiliy Lomachenko card Saturday in Las Vegas. Referee Celestino Ruiz ruled a slip when Barboza went down from a punch in Round 7.

The replay official, former referee Joe Cortez, knew better. He turned on a yellow light to indicate the referee’s ruling is under review and Ruiz stopped the action. Cortez informed Ruiz that Saucedo should’ve been credited with a knock down, the call was corrected and the corners were informed of the reversal.

All that is fine. Instant replay is used in an effort to get it right. And that’s what happened.

Here’s the problem: There was no reason whatsoever to stop the action to make the correction. Cortez could’ve waited until the end of the round to confer with Ruiz, who then could’ve informed the fighters of the ruling while they sat on their stools.

What did stopping the action accomplish? Was either fighter going to change his strategy or the way he was fighting because of the correction? Of course not.

One could argue that a fighter might change his or her tactics if that happened late in a close contest, although fighters aren’t apprised of the official scoring until the bout is over. Another possible example: The wrong call on whether a cut was caused by a punch or head butt could lead the injured fighter to coast when he should’ve been attacking or vice versa.

I acknowledge that there is no perfect approach to instant replay. However, in my opinion, the correction can almost always wait a minute or two – whatever time remains on the clock — until the end of the round to maintain the flow of the fight.

We’re frustrated when a tired or injured fighter purposely spits out his mouthpiece to buy time by forcing the referee to stop the action. We’re annoyed when the ref has to call a time-out because of loose tape on a fighter’s glove.

Why? Because it disrupts the flow of the fight.

And while stopping the action for instant replay can result in the correct call, as it did in the Barboza-Saucedo fight, it can also impact the fight in other ways. For example, it could give a tired or injured fighter extra time to recover. That’s not right. Boxing is not like football or baseball, which stops and starts anyway.

Nevada and other jurisdictions are on the right track by using instant replay. Again, it’s important to get these calls correct. The point here is that you don’t have to stop the action – which fundamentally changes the sport – to get that done.

[lawrence-related id=14772]

Nevada officials extend Jarrell Miller’s suspension indefinitely

Nevada officials have extend Jarrell Miller’s temporary suspension indefinitely for failing a drug test before a scheduled fight in July.

Jarrell Miller won’t be fighting in Nevada for a while.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the heavyweight contender’s temporary suspension indefinitely for allegedly failing a drug test before a scheduled fight in July, BoxingScene.com reported.

Miller was scheduled to face Jerry Forrest on July 9 in the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, his first fight since a previous PED-related hiatus from boxing. However, he reportedly tested positive for GW1516. The substance, also known as cardarine and endurobol,  enhances aerobic power and endurance.

Miller insisted shortly after news broke of his positive test that he has never “willingly” taken a performance-enhancing drug.

GW1516 was one of three substances allegedly found in Miller’s system before his scheduled fight with Anthony Joshua last year in New York. He was replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr. as the opponent for Joshua, who was knocked out.

Miller was not yet licensed to fight in New York at the time he failed the test. Thus, New York officials didn’t have the power to suspend him. Miller had submitted all required paperwork Nevada authorities, which allowed them to take action against him.

They immediately issued a temporary suspension. On Wednesday, they extended it at their monthly commission meeting.

The 32-year-old from Brooklyn presumably would have to reapply for a license at some point if he hopes to fight in Nevada again. It’s not clear when he would be eligible to do so. Some have called for a lifetime ban.

Bob Bennett, the executive director of the NSAC, didn’t immediately return a phone call from Boxing Junkie.

Miller was fortunate to receive a second chance when he signed with Top Rank, which provided a nice platform on which to make his return. The July 9 card – with Carlos Takam replacing Miller – was televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

A few days after the card, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, said, “Jarrell Miller will never fight on a Top Rank card.”

Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) also tested positive for a banned substance when he was a kickboxer in 2014.

The 31-year-old from Brooklyn hasn’t fought since November 2018, when he stopped Bogdan Dinu.

[lawrence-related id=11628,11146,11040,10990,10984]

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. under indefinite suspension

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been suspended indefinitely by Nevada and Arizona as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. might be out of the ring for a while.

Chavez has been suspended indefinitely by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test before his fight against Daniel Jacobs in December.

The former middleweight titleholder was set to fight Jacobs in Las Vegas but, after failing to submit a sample, he was temporarily suspended in Nevada.  Chavez was granted an injunction by a Nevada court, which lifted his suspension by the commission.

That allowed the fight to take place in Phoenix, where Jacobs stopped Chavez in five rounds.

However, now a judge in Nevada has sided with the NSAC. Thus, his suspension is back in place and he will have to explain his alleged actions. Chavez reportedly will be on the agenda for the commission’s Aug. 5 meeting.

“The judge reviewed the case, and he ruled in our favor,” Bob Bennett, the executive director of the NSAC, told ESPN. “He’s now on temporary suspension pending a suspension and an administrative hearing from our commission.”

Bennett went on: “Right now, what’s going to happen is the commission will take a look at his suspension, and then continue his suspension, and then set a date for the administrative hearing for refusing to take a performance-enhancing drug test with us.”

Chavez has tested positive for banned substances twice, once for a diuretic in 2009 and again for marijuana in 2012.

Kenny Bayless, NSAC goofed by stopping fight for review

Referee Kenny Bayless and Nevada officials should be embarrassed by the decision to stop the Top Rank main event for a review Tuesday.

I have the utmost respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which is one of the finest oversight bodies in the world. And Kenny Bayless, the veteran referee, is one of the best in the business.

Those are among the reasons I was so flabbergasted by what I witnessed Thursday night on ESPN.

Jose Pedraza was in the process of dominating Mikkel LesPierre in the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when the talented Puerto Rican went down from a punch to the stomach at 1:50 of Round 5 and Bayless began his count.

After the round, Bayless was alerted to the fact that the apparent knockdown might’ve been the result of a trip. Thus, a moment after the bell sounded to begin Round 6, Bayless called a timeout, left the ring and conferred with his fellow officials to determine whether  it was a knock down or a trip.

After watching replays, they finally decided that it was the latter and the fight resumed.

Here’s the problem: The process took 2 minutes, 10 seconds, which is an eternity in boxing. I understand that Nevada rules allow a break in the action to make such a determination but it’s a horrible, short-sighted idea for a number of reasons.

In no particular order …

  • Pedraza put LesPierre down and hurt him later in Round 5. I believe LesPierre recovered sufficiently before the end of the round. Still, any advantage Pedraza had was lost in that 2:10.
  • The break in the action spoiled the flow of the fight. As ESPN broadcaster Joe Tessitore pointed out on the air, a bout is composed of three-minute rounds with one-minute of rest between them. “You have to withstand that and endure that,” he said. Right. That’s boxing. Timeouts generally are justified only to protect the fighters.
  • Three minutes-plus (including the minute before the review period) is long enough for a boxer to grow cold. Thus, when the fight resumed after the break, Pedraza and LesPierre had to transition from cool idle to hot fight mode in an instant. That’s not easy.
  • And the break in the action sucked the life out of the fight. It’s also difficult for fans to get re-engaged after such a long – and bizarre – break.

Beyond all that, the timeout wasn’t necessary. Bayless could’ve told LesPierre and his cornerman after Round 5 that the knockdown might’ve been a trip and was under review. Then a replay official could’ve made the determination during Round 6 and informed the corner before Round 7.

In other words, was it really imperative for LesPierre to know whether it was a knockdown or a trip at that moment? I know it changed the scoring of Round 5. Still, it didn’t warrant stopping the fight for two minutes.

And, on top of everything else, Bayless and Co. got the call wrong. In my opinion, it WAS a knockdown. Yes, Pedraza tripped over LesPierre’s foot but it was a clean punch that started the process. That’s an obvious knockdown in my book.

I don’t want to be too hard on the NSAC, which I believe constantly evolves in an effort to better serve the boxers and everyone else in the sport. All oversight organizations should be as diligent as this one.

That said, what happened on Tuesday was both ridiculous and alarming. If NSAC officials are a sharp as I think that are, something like this will never happen again.

Jarrell Miller receives license, to headline July 9 Top Rank card

Jarrell Miller has received his boxing license in Nevada and is scheduled to headline the July 9 Top Rank show in Las Vegas on ESPN.

Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller is back.

The former heavyweight contender has received his boxing license in Nevada and is scheduled to headline the July 9 Top Rank show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN, BoxingScene.com is reporting. An opponent hasn’t been announced.

Miller’s career came to a abrupt halt last year, when he was scheduled to challenge for Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight titles on June 1 at Madison Square Garden only to test positive for multiple banned substances. He was subsequently suspended.

And Ruiz Jr. stepped in at the last minute to replace Miller and made history by stopping Joshua.

Miller, who hasn’t fought since he stopped Bogdan Dinu in four rounds in November 2018, signed with Top Rank in January. He’s also affiliated with Greg Cohen Promotions and Salita Promotions.

“Minor setback for a major comeback,’’ Miller (23-0-1, 20 KOs) said in a release announcing the deal. “I’m coming for everything and everyone. No one is safe. Say hello to the bad guy.

“Everyone wants to portray the superhero. We don’t live in a sunshine world. I’ll never be the superhero. In my world, the majority of the time, the villain wins.”

Bob Arum of Top Rank obviously believes in the 31-year-old from Brooklyn.

“Jarrell Miller is serious about coming back, doing things the right way and becoming heavyweight champion of the world,” Arum said. “He is one of boxing’s most unique and exciting characters, but most importantly, he can fight.”

July 9 in a Thursday. Two days earlier, Ivan Baranchyk is scheduled to face Jose Zepeda in a 10-round junior welterweight fight on ESPN.

 

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Yenifel Vicente might face disciplinary action. He earned it.

Yenifel Vicente could face disciplinary action for repeated fouls against Jessie Magdaleno on Thursday in Las Vegas.

Yenifel Vicente had a golden opportunity against Jessie Magdaleno on Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The 33-year-old Dominican was at center stage, fighting in the main event on the second post-coronavirus lockdown card in the U.S. on national television. A victory over a big-name opponent like Magdaleno under those circumstances could’ve made him a player at 126 pounds.

What did he do with the opportunity? He punched it in huevos.

Vicente appeared to be thrown off his game the moment he went down in the first round, which signaled to the typically aggressive puncher that he could be hurt by a better fighter if he wasn’t careful.

And it opened the door to what appears to be his willingness to bend the rules, especially when things aren’t going well. A recent example: He lost two points for low blows in his one-sided loss to Tramaine Williams last July in Arlington, Texas.

Jessie Magdaleno lies flat on the canvas after Yenifel Vicente hit him low and then to the head after the referee tried to step between them. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

That might be why he lost control in Round 4 Thursday, first punching Magdaleno below the belt and then delivering a shot to the head as referee Robert Byrd tried to jump between them that sent Magdaleno crashing to the canvas.

As if that wasn’t enough, he went south of the border again later in the same round, did it again in Round 10 and then went there one last time before the final bell, prompting Byrd to DQ him.

The final tally was four point deductions, three for low blows and one for the late punch. That would be a hell of a night’s work if it were a street fight.  It wasn’t.

I’m making no judgment whatsoever about Vicente’s character in general. He certainly isn’t the first boxer to play rough. We saw what we saw, though, a boxer who lost his ability to fight fairly – putting Magdaleno in undue danger – in spite of numerous warnings from Byrd.

“I’m sore as hell,” Magdaleno told ESPN on Friday. “I’m telling you, I feel like the lower half of my body has been through a marathon, and it was 10 rounds, and it just felt like a marathon run I’ve been through. And just the whole marathon I’m being hit in my nuts.

“That’s what it felt like.”

Vicente might pay a price beyond the disqualification.

Bob Bennett, the executive director, didn’t return a call from Boxing Junkie immediately but he told ESPN he might recommend punishment, which could be meted out only after a hearing.

“There were several shots below the belt,” Bennett said. “Subsequent, referee Byrd took points and as the executive director I am considering moving forward with a recommendation of a suspension or a letter of reprimand to Vicente.”

Magdaleno would support some sort of disciplinary action.

“I think he should be penalized,” Magdaleno said. “I think he should be penalized for what he did. It was just a foul move that he did. He just couldn’t catch my rhythm. He couldn’t catch my speed or my power so, to me, I think he should be penalized for that. It was uncalled for.”

He went on: “They should suspend him for a while. It’s just, I don’t wish nothing bad upon him but something should happen. They should do something to either suspend him for the rest of the year or take something from his pay.

“It sucks to be in that position. I wouldn’t want any fighter to go through that. It does suck, and it does bring a lot of wear and tear on you.”

I wonder also wonder about his long term future in the sport.

If I were a promoter or television executive, I would think twice before featuring Vicente again. He doesn’t have a big enough name to be missed, as harsh as that sounds. Bottom line: We might’ve seen the last of him on TV.

That’s what he did with his golden opportunity.

 

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Reports: Jamel Herring to defend title against Jonathan Oquendo on July 2

Jamel Herring is scheduled to defend his 130-pound title against Jonathan Oquendo on a July 2 Top Rank card in Las Vegas on ESPN.

First Shakur Stevenson and Jessie Magdaleno on separate cards. Now Jamel Herring.

The junior lightweight titleholder will defend his belt against Jonathan Oquendo on a July 2 Top Rank card in Las Vegas on ESPN, assuming the Nevada State Athletic Commission approves the show, according to multiple reports. It would be the first post-coronavirus-lockdown title fight in the U.S.

The NSAC on Wednesday approved the June 9 and June 11 Top Rank cards featuring Stevenson and Magdaleno, respectively.

Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) rebounded from losses at lightweight to Denis Shafikov and Ladarius Miller to easily outpoint Masayuki Ito to win a junior lightweight title in May of last year. The 34-year-old outpointed Lamont Roach in his first defense in November.

Oquendo (31-6, 19 KOs) rebounded from a decision loss to Roach in May of last year to shut out Charles Huerta in November.

Herring had been expected to face Carl Frampton in Ireland this summer but that fight was called off because of the pandemic. He said it was important for him to fight as soon as possible.

“You can spar and do whatever workouts at home all you want, but if you’re not getting hit with those 8-ounce gloves without head gear, it’s a huge difference,” Herring told ESPN recently. “Which is why I decided with Top Rank to go out there and stay busy. I could’ve stayed home, as well, and waited for Carl Frampton, but the fact is, we don’t know how long this pandemic is going to last.

“If I have the opportunity to go out and knock the ring rust off myself, why not use the time to do that?”

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Nevada approves Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11

Nevada approves Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday approved Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11.

Boxing in Nevada is a go.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday approved Top Rank cards scheduled for June 9 and June 11, as well as UFC events on May 30 and June 6, according to reports. The shows will be staged at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both boxing shows will air on ESPN.

“I’ve been working with the executives from Top Rank,” said Bob Bennett, the NSAC’s executive director. “I’ve reviewed their operations plan. They’re still in the process of completing it. It’s very comprehensive. We’re moving in the right direction.

“I’m pleased to see that we are all working in concert with a closed-system event, and I expect it to be very successful.”

Featherweight beltholder Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) will be the headliner on June 9, the first boxing card in the U.S. since mid-March. He reportedly will face Felix Caballaro (13-1-2, 9 KOs) of Puerto Rico in a 130-pound non-title fight, although the matchup hasn’t been finalized.

On June 11, according to BoxingScene.com, former junior bantamweight titleholder Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) is expected to face Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2, 28 KOs) of the Dominican Republic at 128 pounds.

The NSAC will rule later on proposed boxing cards for June 16, June 18, June 23, June 25 and June 30.

The UFC events will take place at its Apex facility in Las Vegas. UFC staged the first post-lockdown combat sports event – UFC 249 – in the U.S. on May 9 in Florida.

“We’ve been working hand in glove with the UFC,” Bennett told Yahoo Sports. “I’m aware of their operations plan and everything has been moving ahead (in accordance) with their operation plan and our protocols.”

Promoter Bob Arum confirms target restart date of June 9

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed plans to stage a five-fight show behind closed doors on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN.

June 9. Mark it in your calendar.

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed to The Associated Press plans to stage a five-fight show behind closed doors on that date — a Tuesday — at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN, the first  boxing card in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March.

And that would be only the first show to come in quick succession. Another card is set for June 11, also on ESPN. Arum plans to stage two shows a week through July.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has yet to approve the cards but Arum has worked closely with state officials in his planning. The regulatory body is scheduled to meet next week to rule the Top Rank shows and two UFC cards scheduled for Las Vegas.

Arum’s plans also are contingent on the opening of the MGM Grand and other hotels in Las Vegas, which is expected to take place the week of June, according to The Associated Press.

“Once we get those fights in and UFC gets its initial fights in, both of us will ask for additional dates,” Arum said. “The key was getting enough testing, and we’ve got plenty of testing in Nevada to hold our events.”

Who will be fighting on the cards? Featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson, who was scheduled to fight on a Top Rank card in March that was later canceled because of the pandemic, is expected to fight on the first show. No opponent has been selected.

“These will be the same guys we were going to have before to the extent possible,” Arum said. “Guys like Shakur Stevenson and others who would have been fighting on our cards.”

Arum said fighters and cornermen will be tested for COVID-19 twice a day and will stay on what he called a “bubble” floor at the MGM Grand. They will be allowed to leave only to eat at specified restaurants in the hotel and train at the Top Rank gym.

The goal of the twice-a-day testing is to avoid a positive test the night before the event, which occurred with UFC 249 on May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Our protocols will be much more stringent than UFC had in Florida,” Arum said. “In ours you would’ve have fighter testing positive the day of the fight or the day before.”

Golden Boy Promotions officials have mentioned a possible restart date of July 4 but they haven’t worked out the details. Promoter Eddie Hearn is shooting for a July restart in the U.K.