MALTA BOXING COMMISSION - UK, SCOTLAND & IRELAND SANCTIONING

[Dan Dares]

Malta Boxing Commission and MBC International are members of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) and as such it's rules and medical standards are exactly the same as it's fellow member NEVADA ATHLETIC COMMISSION, yes the very same as the sanctioning body that will oversee Mayweather-Pacquiao on May 2nd.

Interesting post (particularly the bit above) - hopefully people will take the time to read it in full.

I read it in full, safe or not, no change in my position, they shouldn't be allowed to sanction boxing in this country.

x 2. A bit of a joke really.

[expe]

It sounds as if you`re trying to make some good fights and are having opposition,also for sure allot of BBBoC shows are poor and I would never go to those shows only family members and friends of the boxers would.It will take time for your organization to become established and I will keep an open mind to the shows you put on.

This is also what I think.

It seems to me that the big boys (promoters) dictate to the board - who do as they are told - and they in turn dictate to the little boys.

The business model seems to be to get the home boxer to sell a minimum amount of tickets to friends and family and in return they will be matched accordingly against a boxer who knows the script.

You follow this format until the friends and family get fed up with these knock over jobs, at which point the boxer finds work drying up as they are not selling the required number of tickets, or they are effectively fed to a prospect with one of the top promoters (as their records look disproportionately good to the unsuspecting public).

The figures show that the average pro has less than 10 fights before they retire.

Something needs to change - I can look down the domestic schedule on this site and will be able to pick the winner in over 90% of the fights.

If a new outfit such as Malta results in boxers getting more fights, fighting more regularly, and more evenly matched fights then for me it can only be a good thing.

How are they going to change it?

That's the current business model for small hall promoters, if the fighters can't sell the tickets to cover theirs and the opponents purse, along with the costs of the show, they lose money. They need to be in with journeymen early on to get used to the professional game and learn without taking huge risks. This lot can't make people keep buying tickets, which is what's needed if fighters are going to fight more often or for us to see more evenly matched fights.

[spudder56]

Expe you are very clued up to be just a fan what is your involvement in the sport mate ?

A question for Mr di caro you say that you fund the MBC do you contribute money to the promotor to pay for the doctors and ambulance etc or is each promotor on a stand alone basis ? IMO if the promotor is on a stand alone basis the purses must be really low or else he would lose a fortune being sanctioned by the MBC

[expe]

Expe you are very clued up to be just a fan what is your involvement in the sport mate ?

A question for Mr di caro you say that you fund the MBC do you contribute money to the promotor to pay for the doctors and ambulance etc or is each promotor on a stand alone basis ? IMO if the promotor is on a stand alone basis the purses must be really low or else he would lose a fortune being sanctioned by the MBC

No involvement, just don't get what good any of this will do.

[spudder56]

Expe you are very clued up to be just a fan what is your involvement in the sport mate ?

A question for Mr di caro you say that you fund the MBC do you contribute money to the promotor to pay for the doctors and ambulance etc or is each promotor on a stand alone basis ? IMO if the promotor is on a stand alone basis the purses must be really low or else he would lose a fortune being sanctioned by the MBC

No involvement, just don't get what good any of this will do.

You are correct about what good will it do IMO absolutely none whatsoever I just carnt see how MBC can possibly make it pay for their licence holders or promotors in any way shape or form you are very knowledgeable about how the game works maybe you should become involved

[kamicazze]

It sounds as if you`re trying to make some good fights and are having opposition,also for sure allot of BBBoC shows are poor and I would never go to those shows only family members and friends of the boxers would.It will take time for your organization to become established and I will keep an open mind to the shows you put on.

This is also what I think.

It seems to me that the big boys (promoters) dictate to the board - who do as they are told - and they in turn dictate to the little boys.

The business model seems to be to get the home boxer to sell a minimum amount of tickets to friends and family and in return they will be matched accordingly against a boxer who knows the script.

You follow this format until the friends and family get fed up with these knock over jobs, at which point the boxer finds work drying up as they are not selling the required number of tickets, or they are effectively fed to a prospect with one of the top promoters (as their records look disproportionately good to the unsuspecting public).

The figures show that the average pro has less than 10 fights before they retire.

Something needs to change - I can look down the domestic schedule on this site and will be able to pick the winner in over 90% of the fights.

If a new outfit such as Malta results in boxers getting more fights, fighting more regularly, and more evenly matched fights then for me it can only be a good thing.

Could that be down to license/medical fees as well as activity?

[LucaDiCaro]

I went to Haye-Chisora so I wont be a hypocrite and slate the Malta commission but to succeed they need to get some bigger promoters on board and some better fights on there bills,I will be interested to see where they are in two years, as a boxing fan it`s all about the quality of the shows for me,so they will need to improve a huge amount before I would go to one of those shows.

Have to be honest we would love to get some of the bigger promoters on board, but the reality is that this is unlikely to happen until we have fully established and proved ourselves here.

As for equally matched bouts, firstly let me say, they are no worse matched than any average BBBofC show, come on be honest how many times have you looked at a BBBofC fight card and know who is going to win virtually every fight!

We have had some seriously equally matched fights planned (as we encourage 50/50 fights as we want them as much as the fans), however each time we get close to the actual fight night pressure is put on the away fighter to pull out, or their home sanctioning organisation to pull their permission to box (we know where this pressure is coming from but at this point only have verbal confirmation from the boxer's home federation of who has been lobbying to have the fighter pulled and have not been able to obtain written proof!!!!)

Funnily enough though we do have written proof of BBBofC and EBU interference on getting the WBC and IBO Championship fights that we were due to host pulled, unfortunately we don't have written confirmation for the IBF one but had a very interesting chat with their president Darryl Peoples.

Believe it or not one of our licensed boxers lost six very good opponents for both her first fights with us due to 'outside' interference (this is very well documented on most boxing sites). It got so bad that the promoter would make an agreement with his second choice opponent and list that on BoxRec knowing they would be pressured to pull out so he could then slip the first choice in at late notice!

We have never encouraged or agreed on any poorly matched bout, just that we couldn't keep the good match-ups due to outside interference and as such sometimes the match-ups are not as good as the ones that we would have preferred and should have had.

Mind you, even those bouts where 'alternative' opponents were bought in, some have been absolutely fantastic and can honestly say I doubt the original bouts would have been as good.

We are now getting to the position where this will not happen as often, as besides getting more and more of the European federations to allow their boxers to fight on our UK events, even though they still receive pressure from the 'outside source(s)' but there will be more than enough UK based boxers licensed by us to guarantee that we will have more evenly matched bouts in the future.

It sounds as if you`re trying to make some good fights and are having opposition,also for sure allot of BBBoC shows are poor and I would never go to those shows only family members and friends of the boxers would.It will take time for your organization to become established and I will keep an open mind to the shows you put on.

I appreciate that, thank you.

[LucaDiCaro]

You say that about Flintoff, but you've actually licensed people of lesser skill. Suz Member being an example.

Please get your facts right - Suz Member is not licensed by the Malta Boxing Commission, he fought on an MBC sanctioned event on a Tanzania license

Ha ha ha.

You still allowed it so the point stands. The board wouldn't not let someone like that box on their shows. BBBofC 1 MBC 0.

How wrong you are, for a start they let Freddie Flintoff and he is just one of many examples that I know of.

Back in 2013 the BBBofC had four boxers come to our gym to undertake the 'trial' for four new boxers - each received their licenses even though it was quite clear to all in attendance - including the BBBofC inspector that oversee the trials - they were not that good, but as the BBBofC had stopped doing full contact trials the inspector couldn't fail them on the new specs for the trials - shadow boxing, padwork, bag work etc.

I know for a fact that two of these have fought and due to their abysmal performances had their licenses revoked immediately after by the BBBofC.

One of them Waqas Ahmed http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer - was cleared to fight one of our gym's boxers.

The fight was over in seconds (not the 1 minute and 50 seconds that is listed on boxrec) as it took one jab - YES ONE JAB - to cause him to literally turn around and walk out of the ring.

Now as I had said the BBBofC inspector had no choice but to clear him, everyone there that day, including myself, could not believe that this is the new standards that the BBBofC operate their trials.

For reference the MBC have always undertaken full contact trials otherwise it would be impossible to know if the boxer can protect himself adequately

So do yourself a favour make sure you know your facts before writing, especially on BoxRec as these facts are there for anone to look up.

[spudder56]

My question is, where are they getting the money from to operate ? They clearly have an agenda to get established in the UK, where's the money coming from I wonder.

Dear Jim

I can answer that - I fully finance the Malta Boxing Commission myself, as I have done since it's creation.

I have seen comments about myself just in it for the money (not in this thread but the Malta Boxing Scotland as well as in other places), but would like to have this on record, I have invested a lot of time and cash in boxing, helping boxers etc, and have yet to see any return whatsoever on my rather excessively large outlay to date.

You know what, I don't care, I'm not in it for the money, I do this for the sport and for the boxers.

My introduction into the sport was at the request of Joe Frazier and it's his philosophy that I follow to this day and as I said above - it's about the sport and more importantly the boxers.

A lot of people do not realise just how great a man Joe was, he helped young fighters in many more ways than training or managing them - literally there are boxers out there whose lives he saved (literally) and there are boxers out there that owe their careers to him - he didn't want a financial return, he wanted them to be able to do what they wanted to do and so do I.

It's a shame those at the BBBofC don't have the same philosophy!

so are you saying that in the event of a promotor losing money on a show that you make up the short fall ? coz if your medical procedures on shows are as you say it doesnt come cheap and i fail to see how a promotor could make it pay without bbbofc boxers on the bill

[LucaDiCaro]

It sounds as if you`re trying to make some good fights and are having opposition,also for sure allot of BBBoC shows are poor and I would never go to those shows only family members and friends of the boxers would.It will take time for your organization to become established and I will keep an open mind to the shows you put on.

This is also what I think.

It seems to me that the big boys (promoters) dictate to the board - who do as they are told - and they in turn dictate to the little boys.

The business model seems to be to get the home boxer to sell a minimum amount of tickets to friends and family and in return they will be matched accordingly against a boxer who knows the script.

You follow this format until the friends and family get fed up with these knock over jobs, at which point the boxer finds work drying up as they are not selling the required number of tickets, or they are effectively fed to a prospect with one of the top promoters (as their records look disproportionately good to the unsuspecting public).

The figures show that the average pro has less than 10 fights before they retire.

Something needs to change - I can look down the domestic schedule on this site and will be able to pick the winner in over 90% of the fights.

If a new outfit such as Malta results in boxers getting more fights, fighting more regularly, and more evenly matched fights then for me it can only be a good thing.

How are they going to change it?

That's the current business model for small hall promoters, if the fighters can't sell the tickets to cover theirs and the opponents purse, along with the costs of the show, they lose money. They need to be in with journeymen early on to get used to the professional game and learn without taking huge risks. This lot can't make people keep buying tickets, which is what's needed if fighters are going to fight more often or for us to see more evenly matched fights.

Yes you are correct that is the current business model for small hall promoters - however you haven't taken into account Fifty/Fifty Ticket deals which keep the costs down for both the boxers and promoters - A boxer who can't sell 100 tickets instead only has to sell 50 tickets - instead of paying £1000 to the house and the cost of the opponent, let's say £1200, he only has to pay £500 to the house as his opponent is doing the same. The Promoter still gets his money and the boxer is likely to earn more, as long as he sold his allocation of 50 tickets.

Another way we help our licensed boxer is that we are pro-active in finding overseas fights for our licensed boxers - we send out a monthly list of all our licensed boxers to matchmakers and promoters world-wide.

However the main difference for any MBC member is that our fees (including licenses) are a lot lower than those of the BBBofC - this IS NOT a deliberate ploy to gain a presence in the UK, it is just that in 2011 we set our fees and capped them until 2016 - over the same period of time the BBBofC have increased their fees at least three times to my knowledge.

When we set our fees these were the same as the BBBofC, only in Euros not pounds - but now four years later there is a wide gulf between the MBC and BBBofC fees, the BBBofC's license costs £65 more - now equate that across all licenses.

Saying that, even when we do revise the fee structure in 2016 they will rise by a maximum of 15% and will be capped for a further five years.

Another huge saving for the promoter is that the MBC do not charge an additional 'Board Tax' , we just charge the standard set fee for sanctioning - by the way we had looked into the legal ramifications of the so called 'Board Tax' and had been advised that it is illegal under European Law and that if we had operated such a system if challenged by a boxer we could find ourselves not only having to repay in full, to everyone we had received monies from in this way, but also face a huge fine.

By not charging the 'Board Tax' means that promoters that are sanctioned by the MBC make a huge saving compared to those that are BBBofC sanctioned.

[LucaDiCaro]

Expe you are very clued up to be just a fan what is your involvement in the sport mate ?

A question for Mr di caro you say that you fund the MBC do you contribute money to the promotor to pay for the doctors and ambulance etc or is each promotor on a stand alone basis ? IMO if the promotor is on a stand alone basis the purses must be really low or else he would lose a fortune being sanctioned by the MBC

This question doesn't deserve an answer as it is clearly intended as a wind-up - So please explain why you think that a promoter would lose a fortune on MBC sanctioned events and not on BBBofC ones, when our medical requirements and their costs for an MBC sanctioned event are the same as for a BBBofC event - as are the boxers purses also.

[spudder56]

Expe you are very clued up to be just a fan what is your involvement in the sport mate ?

A question for Mr di caro you say that you fund the MBC do you contribute money to the promotor to pay for the doctors and ambulance etc or is each promotor on a stand alone basis ? IMO if the promotor is on a stand alone basis the purses must be really low or else he would lose a fortune being sanctioned by the MBC

This question doesn't deserve an answer as it is clearly intended as a wind-up - So please explain why you think that a promoter would lose a fortune on MBC sanctioned events and not on BBBofC ones, when our medical requirements and their costs for an MBC sanctioned event are the same as for a BBBofC event - as are the boxers purses also.

It's not a wind up mate if boxers are getting as good if not better purses than board shows then obviously you will do well so best of luck to you

[Wake up call]

Hardly covering yourself in glory here Rio.

Suz Member is the worst boxer I have ever seen and YOU ALLOWED HIM TO BOX ON YOUR SHOW. How do you justify that?

There's an old saying, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and by going on about Flintoff (who is 1 million times better than Member), you are throwing stones.

Your recent "pro" show in Leeds was in a working mens club and the undercard was filled with unlicensed white collar bouncers. Yet, you try to make out you're some legitimate organisation. Even your wikipedia has been marked for deletion because it's full of nonsense written by yourself.

Your MBC is no different to what the EBF, IBA etc have being doing for years. The only difference is you have managed to tag on to a few international bodies to give yourselves pseudo credibility to those too stupid to know the difference.

Organisations like yours a threat to the future of British boxing, not the saviour of it.

As yet, you are yet to sanction ANY genuine 50/50 contests and your cards are full of people who have been refused licenses by legitimate sanctioning organisations.

Your attitude that people "need to get their facts right" just puts you in a bad light as many on here know much more than you give them credit for.

[JimJim2009]

Even your wikipedia has been marked for deletion because it's full of nonsense written by yourself.



We can put a fork in him, he's done.

[Wake up call]

Let's do a quick analysis of the next MBC mega event.

Matt Scriven v Julius Rafeal (Matt was once a good honest journeyman, but now he's a 41-year-old who had his BBBofC licences suspended last year).

Andy Bell v Elemir Rafeal (Bell hasn't boxed for five years and lost his last four. Previously suspended for failing a drug test)

Garfield Mushore v TBA (previously boxed unlicensed - although unlicensed is a misnomer as it merely means non-BBBofC and non ABA).

Nathan Decastro v TBA (actually a good fighter who boxed Etches and Eubank Jnr as an amateur. Had problems out of the ring. Attempted to turn pro with the BBBofC. Unsure of reasons why he didn't get a license. No doubt he'll sack the MBC off if his situation with the board changes).

Lee Churcher v Vladimir Tazik (Churcher is unable to box on BBBofC shows due to his four year jail term for supplying cocaine not being spent).

Remainder of undercard to be made up of five "white collar" fights, including a 4x2 "semi-pro" British Masters title bout.

Cracking card this

[Looking On]

Let's do a quick analysis of the next MBC mega event.

Matt Scriven v Julius Rafeal (Matt was once a good honest journeyman, but now he's a 41-year-old who had his BBBofC licences suspended last year).

Andy Bell v Elemir Rafeal (Bell hasn't boxed for five years and lost his last four. Previously suspended for failing a drug test)

Garfield Mushore v TBA (previously boxed unlicensed - although unlicensed is a misnomer as it merely means non-BBBofC and non ABA).

Nathan Decastro v TBA (actually a good fighter who boxed Etches and Eubank Jnr as an amateur. Had problems out of the ring. Attempted to turn pro with the BBBofC. Unsure of reasons why he didn't get a license. No doubt he'll sack the MBC off if his situation with the board changes).

Lee Churcher v Vladimir Tazik (Churcher is unable to box on BBBofC shows due to his four year jail term for supplying cocaine not being spent).

Remainder of undercard to be made up of five "white collar" fights, including a 4x2 "semi-pro" British Masters title bout.

Cracking card this

DeCastro failed with BBBoC for the same reason as Weaver.

[Wake up call]

Let's do a quick analysis of the next MBC mega event.

Matt Scriven v Julius Rafeal (Matt was once a good honest journeyman, but now he's a 41-year-old who had his BBBofC licences suspended last year).

Andy Bell v Elemir Rafeal (Bell hasn't boxed for five years and lost his last four. Previously suspended for failing a drug test)

Garfield Mushore v TBA (previously boxed unlicensed - although unlicensed is a misnomer as it merely means non-BBBofC and non ABA).

Nathan Decastro v TBA (actually a good fighter who boxed Etches and Eubank Jnr as an amateur. Had problems out of the ring. Attempted to turn pro with the BBBofC. Unsure of reasons why he didn't get a license. No doubt he'll sack the MBC off if his situation with the board changes).

Lee Churcher v Vladimir Tazik (Churcher is unable to box on BBBofC shows due to his four year jail term for supplying cocaine not being spent).

Remainder of undercard to be made up of five "white collar" fights, including a 4x2 "semi-pro" British Masters title bout.

Cracking card this

DeCastro failed with BBBoC for the same reason as Weaver.

There you go. This bill just gets better and better. Loads of bouncer fights and at least three boxers who are unable to box with the board.

[UrbanFox]

As a total neutral on this issue, this debate is very entertaining.

[kamicazze]

Noticed that Steve Collins was active in Frank buglionis corner on Saturday. How come the BBBofC have not taken his license as they have done with other MBC associates?

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Are you actually Maltese, Luca?

[Counter-puncher]

Back in 2013 the BBBofC had four boxers come to our gym to undertake the 'trial' for four new boxers - each received their licenses even though it was quite clear to all in attendance - including the BBBofC inspector that oversee the trials - they were not that good, but as the BBBofC had stopped doing full contact trials the inspector couldn't fail them on the new specs for the trials - shadow boxing, padwork, bag work etc. .

can anybody more in the know than myself confirm that this is actually the way the BBBofC now trials pro boxers?

[Wake up call]

Noticed that Steve Collins was active in Frank buglionis corner on Saturday. How come the BBBofC have not taken his license as they have done with other MBC associates?

Because his position is just token with the MBC. They are just using his name to try and make themselves appear credible (and probably giving him a few quid). He might also be working the corner on an Irish license.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Noticed that Steve Collins was active in Frank buglionis corner on Saturday. How come the BBBofC have not taken his license as they have done with other MBC associates?

Because his position is just token with the MBC. They are just using his name to try and make themselves appear credible (and probably giving him a few quid). He might also be working the corner on an Irish license.

What I want to know is what the MBC are doing for boxing in Malta and the grassroots game there, what are they doing for Maltese boxing and boxers now? They have no shows there from what I can see and all they are doing is trying to siphon cash from the European circuit, they would have more credibility in my eyes if they were actually doing something for the game there. From what I can see, they are doing sweet F.A. He says he is from his opening statement, but what?

[Looking On]

Back in 2013 the BBBofC had four boxers come to our gym to undertake the 'trial' for four new boxers - each received their licenses even though it was quite clear to all in attendance - including the BBBofC inspector that oversee the trials - they were not that good, but as the BBBofC had stopped doing full contact trials the inspector couldn't fail them on the new specs for the trials - shadow boxing, padwork, bag work etc. .

can anybody more in the know than myself confirm that this is actually the way the BBBofC now trials pro boxers?

Think its been changed to competitive spars now, fairly recently

[Counter-puncher]

changed back to competitive spars though surely?