Supporters of Denkin Testify : Boxing: Former chairman of California Athletic Commission says firing came over objections.

A former chairman of the California Athletic Commission and a onetime assistant executive officer of the commission’s Los Angeles staff testified Wednesday for fired state boxing official Marty Denkin.

Raoul Silva, still a member of the state commission, said Denkin “did an outstanding job and we miss him.” Don Muse, who took over the assistant executive officer’s post after Denkin was fired in 1989, said he feared that he, too, would become the subject of the same charges levied against Denkin.

Testimony is being heard this week at Denkin’s appeals hearing at the State Office Building in Los Angeles before administrative law judge Byron Berry. Denkin was fired on charges he accepted cash and jewelry in exchange for favors for boxing promoters and managers.

Silva said Denkin was fired by state Department of Consumer Affairs Director Michael Kelly over his and Ken Gray’s objections. Gray is the commission’s chief executive officer.

“I personally do not believe he (Denkin) committed any of the offenses,” Silva said. He also said of promoter Rogelio Robles, who testified Tuesday he once gave Denkin $2,000 as a “gift for his son”: “It was almost policy for Robles to have problems with the commission staff.”

Muse, who served as Denkin’s replacement for nine months before resigning, said Gray told him repeatedly that the evidence in a report compiled by Consumer Affairs investigator William Holland was not sufficient to fire Denkin.

“Ken Gray told me eight times he did not think the evidence supported removal of Mr. Denkin, that the evidence was inadequate,” Muse said. “He said Kelly and (Claudia) Foutz (chief deputy director for Consumer Affairs) demanded he fire Marty Denkin, that they gave him just one hour to look at the investigation report.”

Also Wednesday:

--San Jose boxing manager Mike Jara testified he paid Denkin $300 so that Denkin would “protect us with referees and judges.” As evidence, state attorney Christopher Foley submitted a Visa bill of Jara’s showing a $328 charge, purportedly for a Western Union money order for the $300.

--Former Commission staffer Patricia Muniz testified that Carlos Lopez--who said Tuesday he had participated in a dishonest weigh-in on Denkin’s orders--had a close relationship with Obdulio Munoz, a Los Angeles matchmaker and frequent critic of Denkin.

“Mr. Munoz hated Marty Denkin, and he said to me once he wanted to get rid of him,” Muniz said.

Muse said he, too, had difficulty with Robles and Munoz.

“I was concerned I would be the target of the same kind of complaints they filed against Marty, and I didn’t want to wind up like Marty,” Muse said.

Perhaps the most damaging testimony against Denkin on Wednesday came from Jara, who said Denkin told him at a Fresno boxing show: “This business is all about money. If any (fighters) you own become world champions . . . if your kids get there, you’ll have to split the pie. I am not a cheap whore, I am an expensive call girl.”