Attorney: Videotape Implicates IBF Chief

Federal prosecutors said in court Wednesday that they have a videotape of Bob Lee, president of the troubled International Boxing Federation, taking bribes to fix rankings.

The revelation came as the U.S attorney’s office asked a judge to appoint a monitor to oversee the IBF while Lee and three colleagues face racketeering charges.

“We have a videotape where we see Bob Lee sitting at a table accepting payoffs,” Executive Assistant U.S. Atty. Joseph Braunreuther said. “ . . . Take a look at how vivid the evidence is.”

U.S. District Judge John W. Bissell asked both sides to submit a list of candidates who might act as monitor. Bissell left open the possibility that he would deny the request or appoint a trustee with limited powers.

“There are any number of permeations in that spectrum,” the judge said.

An attorney for the IBF argued that no such action is needed because “the corrupting influence has been removed” and “there is no evidence there could be future violations.”

Wednesday’s hearing was the latest step in criminal and civil proceedings against Lee; his son, Robert Jr.; Donald W. Brennan, a veteran IBF official; and Francisco Fernandez, who was the federation’s representative in South America.

They stand accused of running the IBF as a racketeering operation. They allegedly took $338,000 in bribes from promoters and managers in exchange for manipulating rankings, the lists that determine which boxers get big-money bouts.

A November indictment concealed the identities of seven promoters and managers and 23 boxers allegedly involved in such payoffs.

But in one instance, in 1995, the IBF received $100,000 from George Foreman’s promoter, according to documents and a source close to the case. That year, Foreman got an exemption to bypass quality opponents and defend his title against previously unranked Axel Schulz.

While Lee has denied the charges, prosecutors said they have audio and videotapes among an “abundance of evidence” against him. They want Lee banned from boxing and have asked for a range of actions against the governing body he founded.

“[The IBF is] not looking out for the best interest of the boxers,” Braunreuther said. “Let’s look out for the boxers. Let’s restore the IBF to a position of respect.”

Last month, Bissell imposed spending limits on the federation and barred its executives from concealing funds or destroying records. It remains to be seen if the judge will appoint a monitor, a measure normally applied in cases against mob-involved labor unions and one that has never been used against a sports organization.

In the meantime, Lee has taken a leave of absence. On Wednesday, his attorney, Gerald Krovatin, called the U.S. attorney’s actions “Draconian” and said his client “has no interest whatsoever in running the IBF at this time.”

Goldman reported from Newark, Wharton from Los Angeles.