LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Nevada State Athletic Commission Friday withdrew its membership from the World Boxing Association because it claimed the WBA was trying to manipulate the state commission.
The NSAC also voted to allow the WBA to hold championship fights in the state, but the WBA cannot select the officials or oversee enforcement of the rules in those bouts.
'I do not wish to do the WBA harm,' NSAC chairman Duane Ford said. 'I just want to make certain they do no more manipulating in the state of Nevada.'
The commissioners were upset over the WBA's actions in the February junior-heavyweight title bout between Evander Holyfield and Henry Tillman in Reno. When the state commission objected to two judges the WBA named, the WBA threatened to withdraw sanction of that bout and the March heavyweight unification fight between Mike Tyson and James 'Bonecrusher' Smith. To protect the hotels hosting those bouts, the NSCAC had to acquiesce to the WBA.
The NSAC also cited the WBA for sanctioning title bouts involving South African fighters and promoting South African official Stanley Christodoulos to its Officials Committee despite suspending that nation from its membership.
The motion to withdraw from the WBA passed by a 3-2 vote of the commissioners, with Ford casting the deciding vote. Commissioners Herb Santos and Sig Rogich voted against the motion because the WBA had not been notified or given a chance to answer any charges against it.
If the WBA holds a title fight in Nevada, the NSAC must select the judges and set the rules. If there is a title bout involving two ruling groups' champions, the other sanctioning group must select the officials and set the rules.
That will apply to the May 15 bout between Holyfield and International Boxing Federation champion Ricky Parkey, and the May 30 fight between WBA and WBC heavyweight champ Mike Tyson and Pinklon Thomas.
