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Retirement fund for boxers and fighters urged
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL FILES
Assemblyman Harvey Munford, shown April 2009 in his legislative office in Carson City, has proposed a bill that would help down-and-out fighters with medical expenses and retirement. » Buy this photo
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Heavyweight boxer Michael Dokes, who also fought in Las Vegas, knocks out John Gardner of England on June 12, 1981, in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena. Dokes, a former champion boxer, came on hard times and couldn't pay for his own medical care. That sparked Assemblyman Harvey Munford of Las Vegas to propose a bill that would create a tax and a fund to cover medical expenses of retired and destitute boxers and mixed martial arts fighters. Munford is seeking re-election in November. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU
CARSON CITY -- To Assemblyman Harvey Munford, it is a matter of fairness.
Nevada gains millions of dollars off boxers at the top of their careers, so it is only fair that the state come up with a plan to at least cover their medical expenses when they are retired and destitute, he said.
Munford, D-Las Vegas, said Thursday he has asked legislative lawyers to write up a bill that would set up a fund to help down-and-out boxers and mixed martial arts fighters cover medical expenses -- and possibly give them pensions -- after their careers are over.
While the details would be fleshed out during legislative hearings in 2011, he proposes to secure funds by taking a percentage of the gate of boxing matches and mixed marital art events.
Munford, a retired teacher who is seeking re-election, said he received a call a few months ago from Michael Dokes, the heavyweight boxing champion in the 1982-83 period.
"He fought some key fights in Las Vegas," Munford said. "He told me he became ill and went to the University Medical Center. Because he was an indigent, he was treated for a couple of days and then released. They told him they could no longer treat him."
Munford said professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey offer pensions and medical programs for their former athletes, so similar programs should be created for boxers.
"There needs to be a fund for them," Munford said. "We need to look out for their welfare after they are finished."
A similar cry to help boxers with medical bills was made after boxer Z "The Dream" Gorres suffered brain injuries at a fight Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.
His medical bills topped $600,000, and a state law requires promoters to carry only $50,000 in medical insurance for fighters. Some said the insurance requirement should be increased to $1 million.
Munford said that he would not mind amending his bill to look at the medical insurance issue.
Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, saluted Munford for his proposal but said it will be a "tough sell."
Kizer said boxing matches are held around the world, so it would be hard to secure sufficient funds from events held just in Nevada.
"A boxer may fight in Las Vegas, but then has a fight in New Jersey and then in Poland," Kizer said.
He said there have been discussions in boxing circles over the years about providing pensions, but nothing has ever been done.
What boxers earn varies widely, he noted.
"You may have a boxer earn $30 million and on the same card have someone who is paid $500," Kizer said.
While funds may be taken out of the gate to create the fund, Kizer said promoters probably would end up reducing what they pay fighters. For fighters, the most important thing is not what happens to them when they are retired, but getting paid a lot of money now, he said.
Marc Ratner, former executive director of the Nevada Athletic Association and now vice president of regulatory affairs for the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, sees merit in Munford's proposal.
"There are a lot of questions that first need to be answered," Ratner said. "How do you qualify? Do you have to have fought so many rounds, or for so many years?"
He said there are differences between boxers and mixed marital arts performers.
"For one thing, they don't take repeated head blows," he said. "Many have high school wrestling backgrounds and have wrestled in college."
They also tend to come from more middle-class backgrounds than boxers, and have resources to fall back on, said Ratner, noting the sport is just 18 years old.
Many boxers historically have come up from poverty, he said.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
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How do multi-millionaire entertainers, sports figures, etc end up owing millions in back taxes; examples abound in this regard: Joe Lewis, Willie Nelson, Wayne Newton, Mike Tyson, etc. An average American citizen even owing the federal government even $200 dollars would have his checks and bank accounts garnished for full payment, but these privileged individuals in the sports, movie and entertainment industries seem to be immune from immediate retribution by the feds. I know one individual who owed $25 on her income tax payments and had her house confiscated for nonpayment. Yet, others like the Willie Nelson example can owe millions for years before their taxes are finally collected by the feds. Why?
Then we hear about sport figures and others in the public limelight that made millions and never saved a dime for their own future and medical care. Van Johnson and Audie Murphy are two movie stars I have read about that ended up destitute. Maybe legislation at the national level should be enacted to mandate a certain percentage of their earnings be put into special accounts for the purpose of insuring their future retirement and health coverage.
I'd agree with itsumo that it is the responsibility of the sanctioning bodies of these athletes to understand the unique difficulties they may face in the future. We can never fix stupid but maybe with proper control by the sanctioning bodies we can make life easier for some of these guys who just can't help themselves. But that shouldn't be something that's subject to the legislative process.
This industry should provide health insurance for itself. Making laws for special funds etc is just the first step. The next one will be where Assemblyman Harvey Munford will want the taxpayers to provide the funds because the law wouldn't get enough money for 10 years or so. If these idiots want to get their brains beaten out, they should fund their own medical.
As a boxing fan and it has been rather hard to be a fan of late but I think the idea isn’t a bad one. Many fighters are sparing partners which is a needed commodity for boxing. They just are not going to reach the high paying end of the game. True also that many boxers squander the fortune and could have invested and handled their money better but almost every fighter suffers from some type of industry related brain damage and unscrupulous business managers. And if I can cheer and love boxing I guess I can contribute to those I watch or their sparing partners retirement in some manner. But I do agree it would be a difficult idea to fairly implement. The funds rightfully should come from us that love and watch the sport and those involved, again I agree with the article how do you accomplish this?
Haarvey we have known each other for many years going all the way back to our teaching days at Rancho HS. On this issue I have to disagree with you. Michael Doaks was a WBA champion and made lots of money which he should have invested, saved and made sure his health insurance was included. Too many of the modern era athletes waste their 'quick riches' on a lot of superflous, fluffy stuff that really means nothing in the long run.
Mike Tyson was a multi-millionair many times over and now has almost nothing. This is true of guys like Wayne Newton, rich today and paupers tomorrow. Securing ones future is an individual thing. Our government cannot take care of everyone.
As teachers we know full well that there are forces in this state, including the Chamber of Commerce, that are working hard to steal our PERS retirements that we all worked so hard for. Michael Doaks and other athletes who did not save for their retirement and senior years were in reality very foolish; they may very well have to pay the price for that without benefit of state assistance.
Sorry, Harvey but on this one I think you are really wrong...that is my opinion for whatever it is worth.
Harvey, you are a moron.
Hey Mumford, My husband works here in Las Vegas and he doesn't have a pension. Can you get us one too? That's fair!
With dimwits like Mumford in the legislature, proposing spending one second on crap like this when we are hurting so badly here in this state, does anyone REALLY think we can solve our urgent and serious problems here? Get rid of this guy!
How did I know this guy was a Dem?
How is it that Dems just HAVE to meddle in private business and private life?
Can't the Dems leave any aspect of life unregulated and untaxed?
What about baggers at the grocery store? People flock to stores and pay lots of money. After a long career of bagging, shouldn't THEY be entitled to a pension? Should there be an extra grocery tax to fund bagger retirement?
Stupid? You betcha!
How about a requirement that any participant in a boxing match or mixed marital art event in the state provide proof of a one million dollar health insurance policy before they can particiapte. Just like car insurance, show proof before you can participate.