Larry Hazard 'relieved' as commisioner for New Jersey

[US Tomato Can]

This one surprised me. Long time New Jersey Boxing Commissioner was relieved fairly recently for no named reason. It's odd because Hazzard was a long time highly regarded ref and as commissioner always had a high focus on safety. In the Gatti fight when the ref would not stop the fight after Gatti was getting hurt badly Larry stepped in and stopped it. I always thought Hazzard was very highly regarded. I have to speculate something big and bad happened for him to be dismissed like this.

[US Tomato Can]

Uh oh more information from the The Newark Star-Ledger:

Hazzard, a former three-time Golden Gloves champ never known to shy from a fight, called the move “retaliation” for his writing to Gov. Jon Corzine about a dispute with Milgram’s office over employees Hazzard believed were jeopardizing the health of fighters.

Milgram’s office landed another shot, Hazzard said, by firing him on the eve of his nephew’s funeral, which they knew was yesterday.

“It’s in retaliation for the letter and that some people took exception for what’s in the letter,” Hazzard said during an interview following the funeral. “‘I always challenge that stuff — that’s the way I am. … But in New Jersey state government, at least in the Department of Law and Public Safety, this time it wasn’t appreciated.”


And the dreaded mismatch:
In a letter sent to the governor on Oct. 23, a copy of which was obtained by The Star-Ledger, Hazzard’s attorney, James J. Binns, claimed his client was told “not to document the malfeasance and misfeasance” of a board employee even though it “jeopardized the welfare of contestants.” Among the concerns, Binns wrote, were the employee’s decisions to sanction mismatches in mixed martial arts contests, to okay a fighter who failed to test negative for HIV and to allow promoters to “shop” for medical approvals for their fighters.
Who could Larry be talking about?
http://www.maderatribune.com/content/img/f207358/MORRISON.jpg

[US Tomato Can]

Last quote:

Attorney general Anne Milgram on Hazzard's dismissal: 'It was time for a change'. All before UFC 78 goes down coincidence or defacto cause?

[aubtin]

Certainly something odd going on here. Fightopinion put a lot of the articles together and it definitely made for an interesting read.

[US Tomato Can]

I think Larry is right to be perfectly honest with you. It kind of reminds me vaguely of Dr.Margaret Goodman kind of slowly slipping out of NSAC as medical director. Then the next thing you know Mark Ratner works for Dana White.

Like I said I am no conspiracy theorist but the UFC sure has close interminglings with Atheletic Commisions in general. Too close imo.

[Paul T]

Hopkins speaks out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3115001

[Soulrise]

This is some frustrating bullshit but I don't think any amount of letter writing will get an Attorney General to publicly admit that she fucked up.

[US Tomato Can]

She did. it's some political bullshit I am convinced. You may be already aware of B-Hops protest to this.

Here's the letter Hopkins sent to the Atlantic City Press as an open letter to boxing pros:

I am shocked and appalled at the decision by the New Jersey States Attorney General Anne Milgram and her office to dismiss Larry Hazzard from his services as longstanding head of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. I am standing up to renounce this decision and I encourage all members of the boxing community—fighters, trainers, judges, promoters, commissioners, television networks, and the media—to join me in protesting this decision.

What's most disturbing is that they not only did they do this the same day he buried his 41-year old nephew, but they also admitted that "Commissioner Hazzard did nothing wrong. It was just time for a change." (Atlantic City Press, Nov. 16.) This might be a change that they needed but it is certainly not a change that boxing needs. We were just fine with Larry Hazzard as a leader in our sport.

Larry Hazzard for the past 22 years has run one of, if not the most, efficient and ethical Commissions in boxing. From a fighter's viewpoint, he championed safety and welfare for all of us, whether we were champions or just four-round fighter. He was always looking to improve the sport and never feared speaking his mind for the greater good of boxing.

The bigger question here, and as far as I know, Ms. Milgram did not consult anyone within the boxing community to get opinions to base her decision on. Boxing is a difficult sport anyway and how are they going to be able to replace Larry Hazzard with someone who is as competent as he is? I have to use the old saying here, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Please join me in expressing your outrage by contacting the State's Attorney General's office. You can write to 25 Market Street, Trenton, NJ, 08625-0080 or call 609-292-4925 or send an email to http://www.nj.gov/oag/offices.htm .

Thank you,

Bernard Hopkins
Light Heavyweight Champion of the World

[Lord Gaul]

He made it longer then almost any commisioner I can think of. People don't realize that it is an elected posistion, so for him to last as long as he did is quite amazing once you think about it.

[US Tomato Can]

He's not elected he's appointed. Why is it amazing he lasted as long as he did? Hazzard probably the least corrupt sport official I can think of.

Also an update from the jerseyshore.com:

Hazzard held an impromptu press conference before HBO's "Boxing After Dark" card Saturday night at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, during which he made it clear he wasn't seeking to regain his $106,000-per-year job. He and his attorney adamantly added, though, that he didn't deserve to be dismissed.

"We all know that Larry Hazzard is considered to be, around the world, the best and most efficient boxing commissioner," said James. J. Binns, Hazzard's attorney. "He has been in office 22 years. And no reason was given for his firing. And the only thing we've seen in the press is (they) thought it was time for a change. So if it's just politics as usual, and the governor is responsible for that, that's a sad commentary."

Hazzard, 62, told the Herald News on Thursday that "without a doubt, this is all retaliation."

That would be the basis of his lawsuit against the state, if he decides to file one, because Hazzard has never been afraid to challenge powerful politicians.

He was an outspoken opponent of Gerard Gormley, the besmirched former chairman of the SACB, because Gormley was given a full-time, $80,000-per-year job he didn't deserve, simply because he is the brother of Sen. William L. Gormley (R-Atlantic). Hazzard made more waves when he granted Mike Tyson a boxing license in June 2004, against the wishes of then-Gov. James E. McGreevey. He also sued Peter C. Harvey, a former attorney general who was once forced to repay promoters for receiving free tickets to boxing events in Atlantic City.

And most recently, he had Binns send a letter to Gov. Jon S. Corzine, alerting Corzine of neglect by unnamed SACB employees that had jeopardized the health and safety of boxers and mixed martial artists who competed in the state.

Most notably, Hazzard informed Corzine that one employee accepted a CT scan eight years ago that showed a brain abnormality for a fighter before he performed in Atlantic City. That boxer, 31-year-old Stephan Johnson, died on Dec. 5, 1999, from brain injuries incurred during a 10th-round knockout loss 15 days earlier against Paul Vaden. Had that brain impairment been recognized in accordance with SACB regulations, Johnson would not have been allowed to fight that night.

"At one point it got so bad and he got so concerned," Binns said, "he sought legal counsel and sought to document the shortcomings (of the SACB employees). And he was told, flat out, 'You better stop putting that stuff in writing. We don't want to know about it.' "

We would like to know why Hazzard's superiors don't think the health and safety of boxers and mixed martial artists in this state is important. We would also like to know why Hazzard was fired just three weeks after sending that letter, dated Oct. 23, to Corzine. And who, exactly, do people who know next to nothing about boxing think will do a better job than Hazzard, who according to Milgram "did nothing wrong."

[US Tomato Can]

Kind of big but very interesting.

Larry Hazzard's press conference from 15 round: http://www.15rounds.com/vplayer/hazzard111707.wmv

[elgigante]

man New Jersey is always involved with the most idiotic/corrupt shit. First the IBF, now this