LOUISIANA STATE
WRESTLING & BOXING COMMISSION
MINUTES
BATON ROUGE, LA
JANUARY 3, 2013
1) ATTENDEES:
ALVIN TOPHAM (A.T.)
BUDDY EMBANATO (B.E.)
JOHN GREEN, JR. (J.G.)
PATRICK MCGINITY (P.M.)
DR. THOMAS FERGUSON (T.F.)
HAROLD WILLIAMS (H.W.)
BOBBY DUPRE (B.D.)
2) MINUTES:
B.E. MOVES TO ACCEPT MINUTES AS WRITTEN, T.F. SECONDS, PASSED, ALL AYES; B.E. MOVES TO PAY BILLS & SALARIES; H.W. SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES.
3) INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS:
KIM ADDISON
GIL GUILLORY
FELIX LAPOMA
KYLE MEIRS
4) LICENSE RENEWALS FOR 2013:
KIM ADDISON: APPLYING AS ASCEND, LLC COMBAT OF SHREVEPORT; IN BUSINESS MANY YEARS. RE-APPLYING PROMOTER'S LICENSE; ALL PAPERWORK IN ORDER; GIVES COPY OF BOND RENEWAL TO J.G.
A.T. REVIEWS HER EFFICIENT & WELL DONE SHOW HISTORY. B.E. MOVES TO APPROVE ASCEND LLC LICENSE; B.D. SECONDS; APPROVED, ALL AYES. LOOKING FOR SHOW DATES OF 2/9 & 3/16, BOTH A MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM IN SHREVEPORT; B.E. MOVES TO APPROVE THOSE 2 DATES PROVIDED NO CONFLICTS; T.F. SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES.
KIM HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE; OPEN DISCUSSION ON WHICH INSURANCE IS PRIMARY OR SECONDARY ON FIGHTERS; J.G. SUGGESTS ADDING A STATEMENT ON CONTRACTS SPECIFYING PROMOTER INSURANCE IS SECONDARY AFTER FIGHTER’S INSURANCE.
GIL GUILLORY: RENEWING MMA LICENSE; HAS $250 FEES PAPERWORK; PROMOTING 6 YEARS NOW. GOOD PROMOTER. J.G. MOVES TO RENEW; B.D. SECONDS; PASSED; ALL AYES. REQUESTS 2/16 DATE - A.T. WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IT BUT VENUE IS HARD TO GET IN LAFAYETTE. NO CONFLICT WITH CHAD'S SHOW ON THAT DATE. WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO MOVE THAT DATE....HE WILL CK WITH VENUE & SEE IF HE CAN MOVE IT & GET BACK W/A.T. NEXT WEEK. B.E. MOVES TO APPROVE THE DATE; B.D. SECONDS; PASSED ALL AYES.
FELIX LAPOMA: RENEWING MMA PROMOTER LICENSE; DID A RECENT SHOW AT THE BELLE, WHICH NEEDS TO STEP UP THEIR GAME ON ORGANIZATION. J.G. REVIEWS HIS BOND, ETC., AND ADVISES HIS RENEWAL IS UP 2/10/13. HE CAN EMAIL HIS RENEWAL TO J.G.; FIRST SHOW IS 3/23, SO NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP. B.E. MOVES TO RENEW LICENSE & SHOW DATE. T.F. SECONDS, PASSED, ALL AYES. SHOW DATE OF 3/23 AT LAMAR DIXON, GONZALES, LA, REQUESTED.
KYLE MIERS: VENGEANCE FIGHTING ALLIANCE, LLC PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED A MEETING & WAS ADVISED TO APPLY IN JANUARY 2012 FOR ECONOMIC EXPEDIENCY. J.G. REVIEWS DOCUMENTS; PREVIOUSLY APPROVED LICENSE PENDING BOND; J.G./B.D. ADVISE CHANGING THE BOND & LICENSE TO VENGEANCE FIGHTING ALLIANCE, LLC FOR LEGAL PROTECTION PURPOSES. WILL RE-APPLY FOR LICENSE UNDER LLC & TURNS IN FINANCIALS & ARTICLES OF INCORP TO J.G. BOND WILL BE REVISED & SENT TO J.G. B.E. MOVES TO ACCEPT NAME CHANGE ON LICENSE & APPROVE; T.F. SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES. REQUSTS 2/16 DATE; MMA SHOW IN LAKE CHARLES AT CIVIC CENTER. PASSED, ALL AYES.
RENEWALS BY MAIL: B.E. HAS ONE APP FOR A BOX LIC, HE WILL SEND BACK TO FRANK L. MCCALL, JR., FROM HOMER, LA. WANTS TO BOX. WILL SEND HIS M.O. BACK TO HIM WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY APPLY HIS $25 FIGHT FEE, APPLICATION, ETC.
A.T. SAYS 2 MIKES (BEADLE & GIROIR) OF B & G WRESTLING OR GULF COAST WOULD LIKE TO RENEW; J.G. SAYS BOND IS GOOD.
WWE APPLICATION SENT THEIR PACKAGE IN FOR A.T.'S REVIEW.
DAVID PETRE JR. SENT HIS APP & BOND; J.G. REVIEWS; ALL GOOD; INDEFINITE BOND.
GARY GIRARD, OLD SKOOL WRESTLING, RENEWAL; PAPERWORK RECEIVED; J.G. REVIEWS & WILL SEE IF HE HAS IT @ OFFICE. R.N.WILL ALSO CK. WITH HIM.
B.E. MOVES TO ACCEPT ALL ABOVE PENDING CONFIRMATION OF BONDS; H.W. SECONDS, PASSED, ALL AYES.
5) LICENSE APPLICATIONS:
B.E. HAS ONE APP FOR A BOX LIC, HE WILL SEND BACK TO FRANK L. MCCALL, JR., FROM HOMER, LA. WANTS TO BOX. WILL SEND HIS M.O.BACK TO HIM WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY APPLY HIS $25 FIGHT FEE, APPLICATION, ETC.
ALSO MARTY WYNN D/B/A RAGING PROMOTIONS, INC., DEPOSITED CK IN DECEMBER; FROM MARYLAND; B.E. DID RESEARCH & HE'S STILL ON SUSPENSION PLUS OWES MONEY. B.E. MOVES TO DENY HIS APPLICATION & INFORM HIM THAT WHEN HE'S OFF SUSPENSION WE WILL RE-VISIT HIS APPLICATION. H.W. SECONDS, APPLICATION DENIED; PASSED, ALL AYES.
6) NEW BUSINESS:
A.T. REVIEWS PROBLEMS W/CHANGING FIGHT CARDS AT LAST MINUTE. WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE A POLICY THAT STATES CHANGES TO FIGHTCARDS IN FORM OF ADDITIONAL FIGHTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED; IT IS TOO HARD TO INVESTIGATE SUSPENSIONS, ETC. CUTTING FIGHTERS OR SWITCHING FIGHTER BOUTS O.K. PERHAPS KEEP & FILE INFO ON "ALTERNATES" AND TURN CARD IN AS "TO BE DETERMINED." B.E. REVIEWS HOW HE PROCESSES CARDS AT BOXING SHOWS.
A.T. REMINDS THAT ID # AND/OR BIRTH DATE NEEDED FOR FIGHT-FAX.
THE COMMISSION RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MARY ANNE CHARRON ESQUIRE OF CONNETICUT REQUESTING LICENSE DENIAL RECORDS SINCE 1996; J.G. REVIEWS; REQUEST IN NOT PROPER LEGAL FORM; HE WILL REPLY TO THAT EFFECT.
J.G. HAS 2 BOND CANCELLATIONS: DONALD HENRITZY EXPIRED 10/17 & MARCIO SETKA EXPIRED ALSO OCTOBER; BOTH INACTIVE.
B.E. SENT P.M. A FLYER FROM AN EMAIL IN REFERNCE TO A BOXING EVENT INVOLVING DON KING & MIDGETS THAT SUPPOSEDLY SANCTIONED BY USA. HE SUGGESTS WE SEND THE PEOPLE FROM USA BOXING A SUBPOENA TO COME TO A MEETING & REVIEW THEIR STANDING WITH THIS COMMISSION & CONFIRM SANCTIONING OF THIS SHOW. J.G. SUGGESTS WE SUBPOENA ALL FIGHTERS ON THE CARD, TOO. MUST LOOK AT AMATEUR FIGHTERS TO SEE IF THEY ARE PRO/AMATEURS & SET A DATE FOR HEARING....THEY MUST SHOW PROOF OF PRIOR AMATEUR HISTORY....ALL AMATERU FIGHTERS HAVE A "PASSPORT" WHICH IS THEIR HISTORY OF AMATEUR FIGHTS; J.G. WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE PROMOTERS, RAY & TROY BROWN.
BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO GET THE SANCTIONING BODIES IN LINE & DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OR WE WILL REVOKE THEIR SANCTIONING AUTHORITY. CONNIE FALCON OF GONZALES BOXING CLUB IS THE HEAD OF THE USA SANCTIONING AUTHORITY IS THE ONE WE NEED TO START WITH.
B.E.: 1) FLYER SAYS THEY WERE ALL AMATEUR AND 2) SANCTIONED BY USA CLUB. HE MOVES THAT WE SUBPOENA THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES OF USA BOXING TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR REVIEW; B.D. SECONDS; ALL AYES.
T.F. ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION OF SANCTIONING BODIES. J.G. SUGGESTS WE SEND R.N. OUT WITH HIS BADGE TO THE CLUB WHERE FIGHT WAS HELD AND GET SCOOP FROM THEM. OR SUBPOENA BOTH VENUE OWNER & PERSON WHO HAS LIQUOR LICENSE, TROY BROWN A/K/A DON KING OF LA & ASSOCIATES, PARTICIPANTS (FIGHTERS, REFS, ETC.) & USA BOXING REPS OR ANYONE ELSE LIKELY TO GIVE PERTINENT TESTIMONY FOR HEARING ON 2/22 AT 9 A.M IN THE MORNING. B.E. MOVES TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS MOTION TO INCLUDE THE VENUE OWNER & USA BOXING. H.W. SECONDS, PASSED ALL AYES. J.G. MOVES TO ACCEPT THIS MOTION; B.E. SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES. J.G. WILL REQUEST THEY ATTEND FEBRUARY MEETING.
DUBAI INTERESTS WANT TO COME TO KENNER @ PONCHARTRAIN CENTER ON 4/26/2013. OPEN DISCUSSION ON RULES/REGS ON FOREIGN ENTITY OR PROMOTERS IN LA. WILL REVIEW W/ABC BOXING.
B.D. REQUESTS TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT HE'S BEEN ON MANY COMMISSIONS SINCE 1972 & SAYS HOW FORTUNATE THAT WE ALL GET ALONG SO WELL ON THIS COMMISSION.
7) EXECUTIVE SESSION:
BE MOVES TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO LRS 42.6.1A(2); HW SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES.
J.G. MOVES THE COMMISSION TO AUTHORIZE A.T. TO ADVANCE INTO NEGOTIATIONS & CONTRACTS WITH BELLATOR IN REF TO SUBJECT DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. T.F. SECONDS; PASSED, ALL AYES.
8) PAST & UPCOMING SHOWS:
NO DISCUSSION DUE TO LENGTH OF APPLICATION RENEWALS.
9) NEXT MEETING ADJOURNMENT:
MARDI GRAS IS COMING UP SO THE WEEK OF 2/27 WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST FOR MEETING AND HEARING; 2/22 IN NEW ORLEANS WILL BE TENTATIVE DATE. J.G. REQUESTS THAT P.M. FIND VENUE TO HOLD MEETING/HEARING, PREFERABLY IN A COURT ROOM IF POSSIBLE. J. G. REQUESTS THAT ADDIE SECURE A COURT REPORTER FOR THE HEARING. J. G MOVES TO SEND RUSSELL NAQUIN TO VISIT VENUE & SPEAK TO OWNERS; B.E. SECONDS; PASSED ALL AYES. MEETING DATE WILL BE CONFIRMED BY EMAIL AS SOON AS VENUE IS DETERMINED.