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If the schmuck throwing tacos at Victor Ortiz used a bottle instead, California would be lawyering up
By Zach Arnold | May 1, 2016
Click this image to watch the video of a stooge hitting Victor Ortiz in the face
StubHub Center and the California State Athletic Commission avoided a catastrophic confrontation on Saturday night and should be counting their blessings.
Victor Ortiz was knocked down twice in his loss to Andre Berto on the Al Haymon Fox show. After getting knocked out, Ortiz was attacked by a spectator after the fight. The attacker hit Ortiz in the face with tacos and started a brawl.
You can watch the video of the attack for yourself and spot all the problems:
- Attacker hits Victor Ortiz in the face with tacos at point blank range
- The video clearly demonstrates premeditation on the part of the attacker
- No one in the crowd stops the premeditated attack on Victor Ortiz
- After battering Ortiz, attacker touches an athletic inspector trying to halt the confrontation
- A ring second, in defense of Ortiz, throws something at the attacker and the attacker punches him
- Attacker has second altercation with another cornerman and squares up to punch
- Attacker throws a punch at cornerman and touches two more athletic inspectors
- Attacker continues to instigate others after Ortiz is escorted away
You don’t have to be a genius to see how dangerous this situation could have gotten. Here is a close-up image of the attacker:
We are offering a cash award to anyone who can provide identification of the attacker
It is unknown if anyone filed charges against the attacker. If charges were filed, we would love to see a copy of the police report.
Why didn't security grab him? My last fight at Stub Hub, 'fans' threw bottles, bloodied a woman behind me #boxing https://t.co/mYqJwjhdDa
— Alysha Del Valle (@abc7alysha) May 1, 2016
What Saturday’s incident highlights is a long-standing problem at California fight events, especially in Southern California. There are too many stories of wild crowd fights at events but most aren’t video taped. If more of these attacks were video taped, authorities would do a better job of protecting the health & safety of the fighters. Some of these crowd brawls involve spectators looking for fame but most of them are fueled by alcohol… and the alcohol is almost never served in paper cups. It’s served up in plastic or glass bottles.
Rule 253 of the California Code of Regulations specifically states the following:
ยง 253. Drinks.
Clubs shall be responsible to see that all drinks are dispensed in paper cups.
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 18611, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 18640, Business and Professions Code.
The major California arenas hosting fights never adhere to this rule. The California State Athletic Commission always backs down from enforcing this rule. The rule is on the books to protect the public, the fighters, and athletic inspectors from getting hurt on the job.
Imagine if the attacker who was a foot away from Victor Ortiz’s face had drilled him with a glass bottle to the face instead of tacos. Ortiz could have been cut. He could have fractured a bone in his face. He could have suffered damaged vision. The attacker was in point blank range to commit aggravated battery.
Where was the arena security? Why didn’t anyone stop the attacker before his battering of Ortiz and the athletic inspectors?
If Victor Ortiz, his cornerman, or the athletic inspectors had gotten seriously injured by the fan with a bottle, you would immediately see claims being filed with the Government Claims Board. Arenas like Stubhub would also be liable for not following the law. Because arenas like StubHub and the athletic commission have dodged bullets regarding safety issues, they haven’t lifted a finger to enforce the rules on the books. You can’t sue a state agency for not following the law. You can only sue a state agency for not following the law when damages happen as a result of error or omission.
The fan incident should have never happened on Saturday night. Victor Ortiz, who was knocked out by Andre Berto and suffered head trauma, got hit at point blank range. If the attacker had used a plastic or glass beverage bottle to attack, there would be a hell of a lot of attorneys preparing for lawsuits.
Our offer of a cash reward to find out the name & address of the attacker is a standing offer. Our e-mail address is [email protected] and we want to hear from any informants.
Topics: Boxing, CSAC, Media, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Alysha
I hope the lady that was bloodied reads this.
Security dropped the ball on this one and that fan is a real piece of garbage. If they find this coward, let Ortiz have 2 minutes alone with him, no gloves.
Once again it’s only about the money. CSAC again allows the STUB HUB to serve alcohol in bottles. Which is against the law says right in the business and professions code. Not enough security and more ways to bring in there $$$$ to stay alive. Instead of looking for the guy that did it go directly to the soarce that allowed it Andy Foster and the CSAC. Punish them.
http://www.fightopinion.com/2016/05/01/taco-schmuck-victor-ortiz-bottles-california-boxing/