May 4, 2021 - From Charles
Muniz
To: Brian Dunn, ABC President
Subject: April 10th Boxing Event- Dubai
Honorable Brian Dunn
President Association of Boxing Commissions
1313 Farnum Street
Omaha, NE 68102
Dear Sir,
My name is Charles Muniz and I represent women’s fighter Ivana
Habazin.
The purpose of this email is to ask that you intervene regarding
an injustice being faced by all fighters that took place in an
event on April 10, 2021 in Dubai. (See attached results below).
First some background information. The fight was promoted by
Lion Heart Productions; Edward Mendy was the promoter of record.
The entire fight card can be seen on YouTube at the following
link:
https://youtu.be/JDiYL97ZZgk Additionally, the event
will be televised by FITE TV on May 6, 2021.
Unfortunately, BoxRec will not post the results of the fights
given some conflict with the local boxing commission. BoxRec
only recognizes the Dubai Boxing Commission, which has been in
conflict with the United Arab Emirates Boxing Federation (UAEBF)
for some time.
Present at the event was the United Arab Emirates Boxing
Federation (UAEBF), which was the acting boxing commission.
Additionally, the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control
(ZNBWE)was present and represented by Mr. Lawrence Zimbudzana,
who also acted in a supervisory role. Please note, the ZNBWE is
recognized by BoxRec.
As you are aware, fighters sole responsibility is to sign a bout
agreement, show proof of their boxing ID, meet their individual
weight requirements, conform to medical testing as required, and
perform to the best of their abilities.
No fighter who participates in such event is privy to BoxRec’s
requirements for posting fight results, nor are they aware of
any conflict between BoxRec and the local commissions. Fighters
simply risk their lives in hope of advancing their boxing
careers.
Please be advised that I have spoken to John Sheppard at BoxRec
about this matter and while I understand his concern about which
local boxing commission he works with, no fighter is privy to
this before entering the ring. My conversations with John have
been cordial and respectful.
As you can see from the fight telecast, there was a supervisor
in place, judges for each fight, a referee, ring doctor, and
required medical staff in the event of any injury.
Having said that, I ask, on behalf of all fighters that
participated in the event, you to intervene and correct this
injustice that is being done to these fighters thru no fault of
their own.
I have attached the official fight results of all bouts.
Additionally, please note that Mr. Amir Kahn was present
representing the World Boxing Council (WBC) as their Middle East
President. He presented Ivana Habazin with the WBC Middle East
Title as she won her bout.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this important
matter.
Sincerely,
Charles Muniz
May 5, 2021 - Response from Brian Dunn to Charles Muniz
Hello Charles,
I am sorry to hear about this situation. Unfortunately, I am
afraid there is nothing I can do to help resolve it. Boxrec is
the official record keeper of the ABC, but they are also a
private company, not even based in the United States.
I’ll admit to not really understanding how boxing “commissions”
work internationally, as it is much different than in the US
(and other international ABC member commissions). After many
conversations with John and Marina, they DO understand the
situation and they only record what they deem to be accurate.
That not to say your boxer did not actually compete, I believe
she did, and I won’t even argue that those results SHOULD be
documented, but if I liken it to some illegal underground boxing
event that may actually happen in the US that is not regulated
by the proper commission, those results could not be officially
recorded. Neither situation is the boxer’s fault, but
unfortunately, those results would still not be recorded.
May 5 - Response from Charles Muniz to Brian Nunn
Hello Brian, I respect your opinion, however, the fights of
April 10th were televised for all the public to see, which, as
you are aware, cannot be compared to nondescript, non-televised
“underground events.”
Is the ABC contract with BoxRec
exclusive to publishing of results in the U.S., only? Or, does
it grant publication of results worldwide?
If worldwide, I feel you need to
take more than a cursory approach. Can you furnish me with a
copy of your contract with BoxRec so I can see what legal
authority you have given them.
I believe it’s in the
public interest to know the extent of their authority especially
when you consider the fact that boxers are the most exploited
individuals in the sport, and here we have a specific case where
an injustice is being committed against them.
Last Saturday I attended a boxing
event in Weston, Florida supervised by the local commission. At
least three fights looked as if the opponents never had even
taken a boxing lesson, yet these fight are accepted by the local
commission and BoxRec.
I still have trouble
understanding how anyone with authority could allow fighters to
risk their lives and be penalized due to internal politics. The
injustice being done to fighters in this particular case
requires someone with standing to speak up for them.
I’m willing to take on that
burden in any court having jurisdiction. Please note that the
United Arab Emirates Boxing Federation (UAEBF), is the governing
authority which grants approval to the Dubai Boxing Commission,
when they stage an event, yet, their authority in this case
isn’t even recognized. How absurd is that?
A wrong in one place when not
corrected becomes acceptable in another place. Thank you for
your response. I look forward to you sending the ABC contract
with BoxRec.
All the best to you. Kind
regards...
May 5th - Response from Brian Nunn to Charles Muniz
Hello Charles, I am sorry to
hear about this situation. Unfortunately, I am afraid there is
nothing I can do to help resolve it.
Boxrec is the official record
keeper of the ABC, but they are also a private company, not even
based in the United States. I’ll admit to not really
understanding how boxing “commissions” work internationally, as
it is much different than in the US (and other international ABC
member commissions).
After many conversations with
John and Marina, they DO understand the situation and they only
record what they deem to be accurate. That not to say your boxer
did not actually compete, I believe she did, and I won’t even
argue that those results SHOULD be documented, but if I liken it
to some illegal underground boxing event that may actually
happen in the US that is not regulated by the proper commission,
those results could not be officially recorded.
Neither situation is the boxer’s
fault, but unfortunately, those results would still not be
recorded. I know you said you spoke to John Sheppard, but he
would be the only one you could convince to include those
results. Good luck, Brian
May 6: Email from
Charles Muniz to ABC Executive Committee
Subject: ABC and BoxRec
Dear Sir,
In my previous email I asked to be given a copy of the ABC’s
contract with BoxRec. I believe that decisions being made by
BoxRec are inconsistent and arbitrary in nature which requires
full disclosure and your immediate attention.
Your previous statement in your email dated May 5, 2021, that
BoxRec is a private foreign company should be no reason for the
the ABC to ignore what BoxRec is doing. As a government entity,
it is in the public’s interest to know if improprieties are
taking place. The public has a right to know the guiding
principals regarding your contract with BoxRec.
Kindly let me know if you intend to provide me with the
aforementioned contract, or should I make such request via a
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) since the ABC is a government
entity.
I feel it may be best to handle this matter in a transparent
matter where your cooperation is required. I shall await your
response. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Charles Muniz
June 19: Last Email to Brian Dunn from Charles Nunn
Dear Brian,
I refer to my last email to you dated May 5th,
2021 where I requested a copy of the ABC
contract with BoxRec. To date, you have ignored
this request.
Further, in your response to my first email, you
stated the following:
“I’ll admit to not really understanding how
boxing “commissions” work internationally, as it
is much different than in the US (and other
international ABC member commissions). After
many conversations with John and Marina, they DO
understand the situation and they only record
what they deem to be accurate.”
I therefore ask, under what legal authority do
John and Marina have the right to determine
which fights they deem to be accurate? Here you
have fights that took place that were televised,
with an actual commission and they arbitrarily
decide the fight weren’t accurate?
Are you aware of the fact that BoxRec has
recorded results of fights where no commission
even existed?
Have you ever taken the time to examine numerous
fights recorded by BoxRec where opponents
recognized professional fighters fought
opponents with little to no fight experience?
Any excuse John or Marina May present can only
conclude that there is outside influence in
their decision making process. This calls into
question the legitimacy of your contract with
them.
The ABC is supposed to stand up for aggrieved
fighters who have no voice. In this case the ABC
has chosen to plead ignorance and allow BoxRec
to make up their own rules without any oversight
from your side. Is this how it’s supposed to
work?
The judicial process both here in the United
States as well as the United Kingdom, are
formerly programmed for “rational” decision
making. Judicial decisions rest on facts and
evidence, and not giving any individual or
entity the power to make decisions based on
arbitrary prejudice or in this case, outside
influence. The assumption of the judicial
process is that, where reason resides, the
public’s interest will emerge.
In your response to
my email you stated:
“That not to say your boxer did not actually
compete, I believe she did, and I won’t even
argue that those results SHOULD be documented,
but if I liken it to some illegal underground
boxing event that may actually happen in the US
that is not regulated by the proper commission,
those results could not be officially recorded.
Neither situation is the boxer’s fault, but
unfortunately, those results would still not be
recorded.”
To be clear, this event was no underground
boxing event. The event was televised and
spectators were present along with a bona fide
boxing commission. Therefore, John and Marina’s
excuse for not recording the results is
completely guided by outside influences which
you should investigate. You can start by
investigating their cozy relationship with the
Dubai Boxing Commission, and the influence this
commission has on BoxRec not being able to
record the results of fights that took place on
April 10th in Dubai.
Once again, ignoring my follow-up email where I
requested a copy of the ABC contract with BoxRec
should not be ignored.
This matter is not just going to go away. There
is much interest in the media to understand how
the ABC could turn a blind eye to fighters who
are being aggrieved.
The time has come for your organization to act
in a pro- active manner and stand up for
fighters. Lacking any resolve to do such, should
call into question how your can allow such an
injustice to take place while you kick the can
hoping this will all go away. It will not!
There can be no
plausible reason for spending taxpayers funds
where BoxRec has proven itself to act in an
arbitrary manner, and where the ABC has failed
in its duty to protect the interest of fighters.
I hope we can
resolve this matter prior to the ABC convention
which will be held in Orlando, Florida July
23-29, 2021. Given the egregious manner in which
John and Marina have acted, I sincerely hope
that there will be no renewal of their contract
as it would be sending the wrong message to the
public. I feel it is incumbent upon you to
contract with an entity that demonstrates they
can operate with clean hands.
Thank you and your
members in advance for giving this matter the
attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Charles Muniz
Manager for Ivana
Habazin
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