The Boxing Promoters Association (BPA) had a very successful meeting this week in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Planet Hollywood Hotel. The BPA continued its past success and 2011 promises to be a good one for the BPA and its efforts to assist the boxing industry. The meeting was well attended, and officially marked the first time that promotional powerhouse, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), which was represented by CEO Richard Schaefer, was an active participant.
Just as has been the case in previous meetings, progress was made towards bettering the sport and industry. There were a lot of positive strides over the past year and additional accomplishments that came about during the meeting. Major announcements will be revealed in the upcoming weeks and months.
One major development is that the BPA will be reaching out to U.S. Senator John McCain to discuss both past and present issues with boxing legislation. The group intends to specifically address the Muhammad Ali Act and the bill being proposed in the U.S. Congress. The BPA intends to increase the impact and the strength of voice of the BPA in the industry and to assist in protecting and developing the sport. Golden Boy President, Oscar De La Hoya, the former Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion, will join BPA President, Joe DeGuardia, and some other members
of the Board of Directors at the anticipated meeting with Senator McCain.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
