A dream gig is suspended by the incompetence & arrogance

of a power-abusing boxing czar

Tuesday, March 20, 2009

Two weeks ago, I participated in a professional boxing match in York, Pennsylvania, and lost a hardfought four-round decision to Terrance Crawford — former No. 1-rated amateur in the United States. Not one of my best performances as a professional, but it was the best I could do on three days notice, and Terrance Crawford did what he was suppose to do -- he won.

Shortly afterward I experienced some pain in my lower left rib. Being of sound mind and body, I always take every precaution because I know professional boxing can be a dangerous sport, and I will have a life after boxing. I saw the ringside physician very briefly. He suggested I go to the hospital and get X-rays.

I did not protest. I cooperated completely with the doctors because I trust they have my best interest at heart. They are qualified and licensed professionals. Who am I or anybody else to disagree.?

So I was transported to the hospital where I was treated by Dr. Roberto A. Moran Bojorquez, who took five X-rays of my left ribcage, another five X-rays of my chest. Thirty minutes later, Dr. Bojorquez read the X-rays and gave me great news: Everything came back negative. It was just a “stinger,” he said.

I informed him that I had another fight lined up in two weeks -- March 21, at the Playboy Mansion -- and asked if I'd be OK to fight by then. Dr. Bojorquez laughed. "You'll be ready to fight next weekend, if you had to." He gave me a clean bill of health, plus a shot to help ease the pain on the three-and-a-half hour flight back to Missouri.

So I agreed to accept the March 21 fight at the Playboy Mansion under the assumption I was not under any suspensions of any kind. The promoters of the Playboy Mansion show purchased my flight and paid in full for the medicals required to be licensed as a professional boxer in California.

Out of the blue, without any previous notification, I receive a letter on March 16 -- the night before my 6 a.m. flight -- stating that I have been suspended by the Pennsylvania Boxing Commission for 30 days. The reason: "Must have rib exam."

Since I'd already satisfied that requirement, I called Greg Sirb, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Boxing Commission, to get this little misunderstanding cleared up.

I explained to Mr. Sirb that I had been given an opportunity to box my dream boxing match inside the Playboy Mansion. I emphasized to him that I am a professional boxer -- it is my career and how I support myself.

Unfortunately, after many attempts and logical reasoning with Sirb, his decision was firm: I was going to have to "sit this one out,” he told me. The appeals process would take weeks, he said.

At this point I feel heartbroken, to the point that I have shed a couple tears today. I have given my heart and soul to boxing since I was six years old. I've dealt with raw decisions inside the ring. I've been lied to, I've been cheated. I have given my sweat, blood and tears to this sport. But never in my life have I felt more hurt and mistreated by such a baseless and incompetent decision.

 I sit here with tears welling up in my eyes and a sharp pain in my heart, like Mr. Sirb had ripped it out of my chest, threw it on the ground and stabbed it many times over with an ice pick. It has been my dream to box at the Playboy Mansion my entire life. It as been my dream to compete and call myself a professional boxer my entire life. For someone to unjustly stand in the way of those things is absurd and ludicrous. With an extremely heavy heart. I ask that something to be done.

Lastly, I have to take the burden and embarrassment of informing all my friends and contacts who supported me and wished me much luck in my upcoming fight, which was suppose to be at the Playboy Mansion tomorrow. Two newspaper articles were written to preview the fight. Mr. Sirb has cost me time and money, anxiety and stress. And he has damaged my reputation with the California promoters.

Mr. Sirb also knew that by informing me so late that the appeal process would be no help. He informed me that it will take weeks to arrange a hearing.

I love boxing with all my heart and now I am forced to ponder my next move in the professional boxing world. Who knows what lies ahead for me after such events have derailed my career?

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An open letter to Greg Sirb (by Travis Hartman)

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MORE ABOUT GREG SIRB

Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner Greg Sirb Sued for Malfeasance  (by PRweb.com)

  Sirb-Gate: Lies, arrogance and the ABC (by Charles Jay, TotalAction.com)