| - Marco Antico |
| Copyright© 2007 Canadian Mixed Martial Arts Association (CMMAA). |
CBF looks to KO Illegal events!
New consequences for those who participate in illegal shows
written by Ed Pearson, CBF Secretary-Treasurer
2007-08-01
At its recent annual general meeting, the members of the Canadian Boxing Federation decided
to make a concerted effort to take measures to try and stem the number of illegal mixed martial
arts and boxing events that take place without the supervision and regulation of combative
sports commissions in Canada.
“In the past, the CBF has taken a stance against illegal boxing and tough man events
specifically in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. These events occur almost without
exception without standardized rules, and safety precautions that legitimate commissions in
Canada demand.” Said Ed Pearson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Boxing Federation.
“Things like proper matchmaking standardize medical testing to insure participants are in
proper condition, qualified ring physicians at ringside, ambulances at the event in case of
major injuries and so on. These are issues that have been addressed by the CBF over the
past several decades, and are standard in most countries of the world, yet we continue to
have these unsanctioned events happen in our own backyard.”
The member commissions attending the CBF meeting acknowledged despite the efforts to
date, which mainly focused on boxing and tough man events, there are still events that occur,
in the opinion of the CBF, in contravention of Section 83 of Canada’s Criminal Code. The
Code specifically prohibits “prizefighting” as an illegal event “unless held with the permission or
under the authority of an athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under
the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport within the province….”
In the case of mixed martial arts, the promoters have often said they were sanctioned by some
sort of bogus organization. The reality is that only a commission, duly authorized under
provincial legislation, has the authority and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate combative
sports in Canada.
Former CBF President Orest Zmyndak pointed out that an “XYZ Mixed Martial Arts Council” is
not by any stretch a recognized “authority”, much less a legitimate regulatory body, amateur or
professional.
The CBF decided that in order to prevent these events from happening, the individual
commissions would take a stance against their respective ring officials working unsanctioned
events, and may not permit those participants who participate in these events to work in
legitimately sanction events. In addition, the CBF membership decided to continue to alert
municipalities and police authorities where these events take place about Section 83, the
potential liability associated with allowing these events to take place.
Pearson said “There are very good and respected promoters across Canada, both boxing and
MMA, who respect the laws and pay the cost of legitimacy by following the rules and
regulations. In terms of the financial costs to these promoters, there is no doubt that having to
pay to have an ambulance, ring physicians, properly trained ring officials and permit fees takes
away from the bottom line, however, it is not a right in Canada to stage the types of potentially
dangerous sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts, but rather a privilege. And with the
privilege comes the professional responsibility of safety and the costs associated with
regulation.”
New consequences for those who participate in illegal shows
written by Ed Pearson, CBF Secretary-Treasurer
2007-08-01
At its recent annual general meeting, the members of the Canadian Boxing Federation decided
to make a concerted effort to take measures to try and stem the number of illegal mixed martial
arts and boxing events that take place without the supervision and regulation of combative
sports commissions in Canada.
“In the past, the CBF has taken a stance against illegal boxing and tough man events
specifically in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. These events occur almost without
exception without standardized rules, and safety precautions that legitimate commissions in
Canada demand.” Said Ed Pearson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Boxing Federation.
“Things like proper matchmaking standardize medical testing to insure participants are in
proper condition, qualified ring physicians at ringside, ambulances at the event in case of
major injuries and so on. These are issues that have been addressed by the CBF over the
past several decades, and are standard in most countries of the world, yet we continue to
have these unsanctioned events happen in our own backyard.”
The member commissions attending the CBF meeting acknowledged despite the efforts to
date, which mainly focused on boxing and tough man events, there are still events that occur,
in the opinion of the CBF, in contravention of Section 83 of Canada’s Criminal Code. The
Code specifically prohibits “prizefighting” as an illegal event “unless held with the permission or
under the authority of an athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under
the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport within the province….”
In the case of mixed martial arts, the promoters have often said they were sanctioned by some
sort of bogus organization. The reality is that only a commission, duly authorized under
provincial legislation, has the authority and jurisdiction to supervise and regulate combative
sports in Canada.
Former CBF President Orest Zmyndak pointed out that an “XYZ Mixed Martial Arts Council” is
not by any stretch a recognized “authority”, much less a legitimate regulatory body, amateur or
professional.
The CBF decided that in order to prevent these events from happening, the individual
commissions would take a stance against their respective ring officials working unsanctioned
events, and may not permit those participants who participate in these events to work in
legitimately sanction events. In addition, the CBF membership decided to continue to alert
municipalities and police authorities where these events take place about Section 83, the
potential liability associated with allowing these events to take place.
Pearson said “There are very good and respected promoters across Canada, both boxing and
MMA, who respect the laws and pay the cost of legitimacy by following the rules and
regulations. In terms of the financial costs to these promoters, there is no doubt that having to
pay to have an ambulance, ring physicians, properly trained ring officials and permit fees takes
away from the bottom line, however, it is not a right in Canada to stage the types of potentially
dangerous sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts, but rather a privilege. And with the
privilege comes the professional responsibility of safety and the costs associated with
regulation.”
Thanks to "Woody" for e-mailing this story to us. This article can be found on the Canadian
Boxing Federation's website - http://www.canadianboxing.com/
Boxing Federation's website - http://www.canadianboxing.com/