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The legacy of Keith Kizer is cemented thanks to Evander Holyfield
By Zach Arnold | March 3, 2010
We have long discussed Keith Kizer’s “business as usual” performance on this site as head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. As duly noted on a few boxing web sites, Kizer’s administration has approved more fighters over the age of 35 (a cut-off range for state approval) than anyone could have possibly imagined. In February, we had a UFC PPV headlined by Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman which resulted in Coleman getting cut by UFC a few days later due to safety concerns.
And now we get Keith Kizer approving Evander “Evan Fields” Holyfield for a boxing license to fight Francois Botha in Nevada reportedly on April 17th. Seriously. According to quotes Kizer gave publicly, he stated that Holyfield’s recent fight performances have proven that he is deserving of a one-fight license.
The criticisms I have leveled against Kizer in the past have all been fair charges — from the impotent “out-of-season” drug testing of MMA fighters, to the situation involving Antonio Margarito and an unwillingness to apply harsh scrutiny to past Margarito fights in Nevada (due to the hand-wrap controversy), to the situation regarding his long-standing stand-off with Big John McCarthy, and to the situation regarding urine tests being an acceptable and accurate standard for drug testing when negotiations were happening for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. And yet, the criticism and heat towards Kizer has never been that strong in regards to those past issues. However, when news broke today about Holyfield being approved by Kizer’s administration in Nevada for a license, I suspected that public reaction would turn very sour very quickly.
The public reaction has been, so far, consisting of disgust, anguish, and contempt. The only memeber of the Nevada State Athletic Commission that voted against Holyfield’s license request was Skip Avansino, who expressed the same concerns that most American boxing fans have about Holyfield in regards to his health and whether or not he is even competent to continue fighting. Will Avansino end up getting the Flip Homansky treatment and get asked to leave the commission soon?
The Las Vegas Review-Journal highlights the licensing controversy.
Holyfield may be cleared to fight in Nevada, but asking him to speak clearly in daily life without slurring his words may be a different matter altogether.
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Just listening to a Holyfield interview leaves you with no doubt the man should not be fighting. He’s as punch drunk as it gets. Shame on Nevada. Plus they also should have taken his obvious HGH use into consideration.
On the bright side the storyline for Rocky Balboa just got more realistic knowing the commission will now ignore all previous medical issues that caused license suspension. No need to ignore Rocky V any further!!
Rp
Dr. Margaret Goodman has also been outspoken in the press when it comes to the licensing of older fighters, but I’m not sure if that has anything to do with her no longer being affiliated with NSAC, can’t imagine it helped.
Yeah, this has been totally overlooked by the MMA community in the Big John hoopla.
Kudos to Keith during these economic times to promote Las Vegas. A true friend to the common man. If he could only promote more mining of molybdenum in Nevada he would undoubtly be more of a frien than Mr. Reid.
Soon you can add licensing James Toney as an MMA fighter (and a likely Kimbo Slice vs. Toney bout) to this list!
We care about the sport, motherf#cker!
[…] he’s a perfect fit to pass the standards of Keith Kizer’s administration in Nevada. If Evander “Evan Fields” Holyfield can make […]