Arum’s Role in IBF Probe Being Investigated by State

The State Attorney General’s office, at the request of the California State Athletic Commission, has launched an investigation of boxing promoter Bob Arum, based on Arum’s sworn statement that he made improper payments to the International Boxing Federation in 1995.

Although it appears unlikely, Deputy Attorney General Earl Plowman wouldn’t rule out the possibility that his action could jeopardize the Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley welterweight title fight June 17 at Staples Center. Or at least the involvement of Arum, De La Hoya’s promoter, in the match.

At issue is a declaration by Arum on file in the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Jersey regarding a case against the IBF and its president, Bob Lee. In the declaration, Arum claims he made two $50,000 payments to get a fight between heavyweights George Foreman and Axel Schultz sanctioned.

Said Arum in the declaration: “In January 1995, I gave [manager Stan] Hoffman a check for $50,000 . . . based on the agreement that Hoffman would cash the checks in Europe and deliver the proceeds to Robert Lee Sr. In or around April, 1995, I gave another check, also for $50,000.”

The commission could strip Arum of his boxing license.

At the very least, Plowman said, “We would want Bob Arum to come in and testify under oath before the commission. If Bob Arum of Top Rank [boxing organization] is the dirty doer in this deal, then maybe Bob Arum would have to be out of the corporation before the fight could proceed.

“A lot of people could be hurt by this, Staples Center and a lot of others. I am a boxing fan. I do not want see Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley hurt by this. This is not going to be easy on the commission.”

Responded Arum, “What the hell is this? I don’t think California has any jurisdiction to look into this. You don’t do this kind of thing and single out a particular individual who has not been indicted or convicted of anything. This didn’t occur in California. Who are they to see if a crime has been committed? That’s up to the legal authorities to do. I don’t know why California is messing with this. I think they are completely out of bounds.”

Plowman said, “The commission doesn’t quite look at it that way.”

According to Plowman, Arum’s case would come under commission Rule 391, which gives it the power to discipline anyone who has engaged in activities “detrimental to the best interests of boxing.”

Arum was given immunity to testify in the New Jersey case, Plowman said, but that immunity might have been limited.

At this point, he wouldn’t rule out issuing subpoenas for others in the New Jersey case.

“The commission has the authority to issue subpoenas,” he said. “If there is a nest of stuff out there, I want to go through that stuff, see how many people were involved and see how many have California licenses.

“I don’t see any piecemeal action on our part. The sexy issue would be to go right after Bob Arum and go right after Cedric Kushner [Mosley’s promoter]. But the commission will move in the proper manner.”

The commission consists of five members with two seats vacant.

“The commission will look into it, form judgments and we’ll go from there,” said Rob Lynch, the organization’s executive officer.