Despite what you may have heard, the Nevada State Athletic Commission isn’t just concerned with doling out boxing licenses and raking in big paydays. The NSAC also cares about doing what’s right. And after Saturday’s fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the commission is finally taking a stand against a fighter who has shamed the sport of boxing.
No, no, not Mayweather, the man who’s been convicted on five separate incidents of domestic assault and is currently being sued by two exes for battery, assault and defamation. According to commission member Pat Lundvall, that’s all water under the bridge. “The criminal justice system had decided what this man’s punishment was,” she recently told OTL. “A judge had made that decision. And we paid respect to that decision.”
So now the NSAC has plenty of time and energy to go after the real bad guy here: Manny Pacquiao, who will undergo shoulder surgery later this week to repair a tear in his rotator cuff suffered during training about a month ago. Despite knowledge of the injury, Pacquiao’s camp checked the “no” box regarding any existing injuries on a prefight medical questionnaire, sparking a perjury investigation that could result in suspension, fines or worse.
NSAC executive director Bob Bennett said Tuesday evening that the commission is still deciding what action, if any, to take against Pacquiao. “Right now we’re still gathering facts,” Bennett said. “We’ll consider our options once that’s completed. Bottom line, if you look at Nevada code 467 [unarmed combat], there are violations that occurred. As a regulatory body, we have the right to a civil complaint, and if it appears to be criminal in matter, the 8th Judicial District Court would handle. We’re not even close to that level right now, though. A litany of facts still need to be considered.”
The good name of boxing was further dragged through the mud with Tuesday’s announcement that a class-action lawsuit was filed against Pacquiao and his promotions company, Top Rank, for failing to disclose the injury before Saturday’s fight. Ticket holders, pay-per-view buyers and bettors could all be involved as plaintiffs, while Pacquiao, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Top Rank president Todd Duboef, Top Rank Inc. and Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, are listed as defendants.
Neither boxing fans nor the NSAC should sit idly by as a man withholds information, intentionally misleads the public and tarnishes the sparkling reputation of the sport. Taking action is the only way to honor and do right by his victims — you know, the celebrities, like Beyonce and Ben Affleck, who (maybe) paid big bucks for seats in the arena, the fans who spent $100 to watch on pay-per-view, and the hard-working sports bettors, who risked their life savings on a fight that wasn’t fair.
Thank goodness the NSAC is thinking of these victims. Thank goodness it is willing to take a stand, decrying that doing what’s right matters, even when doing what pays a lot feels better.
Bravo, NSAC. The sport of boxing is in good hands.
