BOXING / CHRIS DUFRESNE : Fighters Will Lose Out on Prop. 187 Reaction

It came as quite a shock last week when a boxing organization, of all institutions, tried to take the moral high ground on an issue.

You remember boxing. The sport of back-room deals and cutthroat rivalries.

You wanted to believe the World Boxing Council had its heart in the right place when its president, Jose Sulaiman, ordered from Mexico City headquarters a ban on WBC title fights in California through March 30 to protest the passage of Proposition 187.

That measure, if implemented, will cut off education, welfare and non-emergency health care to the state’s estimated 1.7 million illegal immigrants.

The WBC also promised a two-year suspension for any Mexican national fighting in California in that period.

Sulaiman equated the passage of Prop. 187 with apartheid in South Africa.

However well intended, the WBC sanctions smack of political posturing, a public play to stoke the emotions of an already red-hot issue.

Promoter Bob Arum called the WBC’s declarations “demagoguery.”

Also, the sanctions are toothless. First, there probably will not be any WBC title bouts in California before March 30. The state has staged only eight WBC title fights in the last three years, four involving Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez.

Second, the WBC left a window of opportunity, a Nov. 22 deadline, for promoters to pre-book matches for the WBC’s boycott period.

The WBC, in conjunction with the Mexican Boxing Commission, obviously wanted to make a point about its disgust for California politics.

It has that right.

But who, ultimately, do WBC sanctions hurt?

Mexican nationals and the venues that promote them.

“I understand why the WBC would want to call attention to its position on 187, to get their opinion voiced,” John Jackson, vice president of Forum Boxing, said. “I disagree with the WBC and the Mexican commission that Mexican fighters should boycott fights in California. So much of their revenues comes through California.”

Forum Boxing, which conducts twice-monthly cards, has been a springboard for many Mexican fighters or those of Mexican heritage, including current champions Gonzalez and Genaro Hernandez.

Richard DeCuir, executive officer with the California State Athletic Commission, said the WBC’s salvo hit the wrong target.

“It’s the kids that get hurt the most,” DeCuir said.

DeCuir said Mexicans who cross the border to fight do so for good reason. Whereas a fighter might earn as little as $5 a round in Mexico, the minimum in California is $100. Plus, the promoters pay travel expenses.

It will be curious to see how many Mexican fighters, the majority of whom are not stars, defy the WBC boycott in pursuit of larger paychecks. Privately, some worry that if Prop. 187 is upheld in court, Mexican fighters will be scared off and boxing in the state will dry up.

The issue is divided.

Gabriel Ruelas, WBC junior lightweight champion, was born in Mexico and moved to California when he was 7. He supports the sanctions that prohibit him from fighting in his home state because of his personal disgust for the passage of Prop. 187.

“In a way, it affects me,” Ruelas said of the boycott. “I’m the WBC champ. But it affects the people more than me. I’d rather it affects me. If I had the power, like Sulaiman, to make the decision, I would have to make that decision.”

Ruelas has his green card but worries about a younger brother who does not--a brother other than Rafael, the IBF lightweight champion.

DeCuir suggests everyone take a deep breath.

Prop. 187, even if upheld in court, would not affect the way Mexican fighters do business in California.

No taxpayer dollars are spent on fighters who need medical attention in California. DeCuir said promoters are required to provide medical insurance for their boxers.

Also, boxers do not need to show proof of citizenship to get licenses to fight legally in the state. The state commission recently sent Sulaiman a letter expressing its displeasure concerning the WBC’s stance.

In the letter, commission Chairman W. E. Eastman said, “I understand your desire to make a political statement. It has been made and it has been reported in the media. However, it has not been particularly well received. This is primarily because Californians would not presume to tell Mexico’s government or citizens how their taxes should be spent.”

DeCuir followed up with a phone call to Sulaiman.

“The bottom line is, until the courts can determine if 187 is constitutional, anything the WBC does or the commission does is premature,” DeCuir said. “That’s what I discussed.”

There are indications that Sulaiman might be willing to tone down his original comments and at least wait until the 187 dust clears.

That would be a welcome proposition.

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James Toney, the aftermath:

Jackie Kallen, Toney’s manager, had feared the day her fighter would lose.

“James is the type of guy who would rather die than lose,” she once said.

Well, Toney lost a unanimous decision to Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.

Three days later, Toney was on a police blotter in suburban Detroit for allegedly wielding a gun and threatening to kill Kallen.

Thankfully, he only fired Kallen, and no charges were filed.

Anyone surprised by the incident does not understand Toney’s volatile nature.

Arum, Toney’s promoter, thinks the rift will blow over and blames it mostly on Toney’s weight problems.

Toney had to lose 40 pounds to make the fight’s 168-pound limit. Why would someone poised for the biggest fight of his life allow his weight to get so out of control?

“He has an eating disorder,” Arum said.

Arum said Toney took diuretics to lose weight and after the weigh-in required an injection to rehydrate his body.

No wonder Toney (44-1-2) vows never to fight at 168 again. Apparently, Kallen incensed Toney by suggesting he stay at 168 because they could make more money in the division. Toney had a rematch clause with Jones in his contract.

In fact, Toney’s super-middleweight days are over. Arum said the goal is to get Toney a few cable television fights and set him up for a light-heavyweight title bout down the road.

Arum said Kallen and Toney will honor their contract with Top Rank, but it remains to be seen whether Kallen will return to Toney’s corner.

Boxing Notes

Stanley Levin, Roy Jones Jr.’s adviser, said the new International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champion will return to the gym in mid-January and possibly fight in February or March, possibly against Nigel Benn of Britain, the World Boxing Council champion, or the winner of the Vinny Pazienza-Roberto Duran bout. Jones also has threatened to return to the middleweight division to reclaim the IBF belt he vacated to fight Toney.

Don’t expect Jones and promoter Bob Arum to be doing business again soon. Jones took some parting shots at the Top Rank boss after the Toney fight. Levin, who said the Toney-Jones card Arum promoted was “a nightmare,” said Jones will never sign a long-term deal with any promoter. Levin said of Arum, “I despise the man.”

The WBC rejected Terry Norris’ appeal for his Nov. 12 loss in Mexico City to Luis Santana to be ruled no contest. Norris was stripped of his super-welterweight crown for throwing a punch to the back of Santana’s head in the fifth round. Santana, a 34-year-old Dominican, was taken away on a stretcher. Joe Sayatovich, Norris’ manager, maintains Santana was faking. The appeal denied, Norris has now petitioned the WBC for a mandatory rematch with Santana.