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DOVER, Del., May 10, 2002 - A group of determined boxers sent a clear and visible message to the world this evening: boxers must have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their livelihood.
Prior to the scheduled 12-round main event between Kasin Ouma and Jason Papillion for the vacant USBA middleweight championship, Ouma and other boxers, including former world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon, entered the ring at the Rollins Center at Dover Downs Race Track and disrobed in unison. They each adorned temporary tattoos on their backs, despite a ban by ESPN (which televised the fight on its ESPN2 network) prohibiting fighters from wearing the body art. The temporary henna tattoos were worn by the boxers through an agreement with GoldenPalace.com, one of the oldest licensed online casinos on the Internet. GoldenPalace,com has pioneered the use of "Body Billboards" with athletes and entertainers as a unique marketing tool.
Recently, several promoters and television executives have forbid the use of "temporary tattoos" as advertising vehicles and threatened to fine and ban fighters who have worn them. The claim has been that it is "free advertising" and demeaning to the sport.
The stand made by Ouma and his fellow boxers was supported by the Boxers Organizing Committee, an association committed to putting the boxer in the forefront and on a level playing field.
"Boxing executives and promoters are making business decisions all the time without consulting the boxer", said Paul Johnson, a former professional boxer, and chairman of the B.O.C. "All other professional sports organizations have a voice for its players. Boxers need one too".
The following is a statement from the Boxers Organizing Committee regarding the actions by Ouma and his fellow fighters this evening:
| "In an industry and country where advertising signage has appeared nearly everywhere, the temporary tattoos are a revenue stream that go directly to fighters, bypassing the established pay structure of the sport. When fighters have little control or awareness of other sponsorship agreements, we disagree with any attempt to arbitrarily make decisions that affect our livelihood. Boxers must be involved in the process. We recognize the importance of protecting the interest of the television networks and sponsors, but proper policy should be set by understanding all perspectives. Tonight is merely a starting point for a larger union effort to build a better sport, especially with regards to pension, health insurance and fair business practices for fighters." |
Moreover, the B.O.C. has the support of all major professional sports players' associations and several other major unions, including the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers (UAW), Teamsters, and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).
Numerous fighters have also stepped to the forefront in support of the B.O.C. including great champions Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Shane Moseley, Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins, Arturo Gatti and Johnny Tapia.
Paul
Johnson | Chairman | Boxers Organizers Committee | 4042 88th
Lane NE | Blaine | MN | 55014
Phone:
(763)-438-2447
E-Mail: Johnson4042@aol.com