BOXING Report shows OAC put amateurs at risk

The commission's handling of cash was called into question.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Athletic Commission, which sanctions prize fighting in the state, allowed more than 40 boxers to compete in "toughman" contests with more amateur wins than their rules permit, the Ohio Inspector General says.
In a report issued Thursday, Inspector General Thomas P. Charles said in some cases fighters were permitted to compete without reporting their boxing records or even signing their state applications.
"Boxing is a dangerous sport in which injuries and deaths occur in both the amateur and professional ranks," Charles said in his report. "The inconsistent oversight by the OAC staff and its agents created an environment ripe for contestant injuries."
News surfaced
The probe was sparked by television reports in Cleveland earlier this year involving a boxer with a professional record who competed in a local "toughman" contest.
Toughman contests feature amateur fighters who compete in three one-minute rounds wearing headgear and using 16-ounce gloves.
According to investigators, the news report noted that under state toughman rules that fighters with more than five sanctioned amateur wins in the last five years are prohibited from competing.
Another toughman requirement says contestants must live within 75 miles of the location of the fight, according to investigators.
One of the fighters featured in the news report, Forrest Petz of Cleveland, admitted he had an 11-0 record in professional fights and had competed in 13 toughman contests, according to investigators.
Investigators said that Forrest "The Meat Cleaver" Petz was, in fact, the middleweight division champion at the Mahoning Valley "Bada$$fighting" event in December 2003 and had won $5,000.
In reviewing toughman applications on file with the OAC for 2003, investigators found that 40 fighters reported six or more amateur wins; 10 had records of more than 20 amateur wins and one applicant had an amateur record of 64-2.
More violations
So far this year, six toughman applicants reported six or more amateur wins and one boxer reported a record of 40-10, investigators said. Also, nine boxers traveled more than 75 miles to compete in toughman contests with one traveling 244 miles from Warren to Dayton, according to investigators.
"The rules adopted by the commission and the executive director have not been enforced and their lack of oversight has placed amateur boxers at risk," Charles said in his report. Charles said the commission's failure to enforce the rules constitutes a "wrongful act."
IG investigators also reviewed management issues and found that the last three audits conducted by the State Auditor's Office had similar findings, with no improvement to operations initiated by the staff, according to the report.
The OAC staff's cash handling process was found to be noncompliant with generally accepted accounting principles, investigators said.
In a taped interview in June, former OAC Executive Director Paul Amodio said the OAC has asked promoters to send up lists of their expected fighters so the commission can determine whether they've won anyplace else.
Amodio told investigators the commission also sends lists of previous winners to inspectors at the toughman contests.
Amodio acknowledged in his interview that Petz, the subject of the television report, was ineligible to fight in a toughman contest.
"This kid snuck through the cracks on us," Amodio said, according to an interview transcript. "... He did sneak through the cracks and the truth is the truth ... I don't think in doing this 6 or 7 years, right here, we've had anybody as blatant as him."
Amodio, who was planning to retire, has been reportedly recovering from a heart attack and couldn't be reached for further comment. Dennis Berg is the interim director.
Wanting improvement
The IG has recommended that the OAC better use technology to check fighters' histories before licensing them and that policies be adopted for licensing.
The OAC should also consider moving its office to Columbus where administrative support and training are available or possibly even consolidating with another state agency, according to the inspector general.
The OAC is currently located in suburban Cleveland, moving in 2003 from Youngstown.
The IG has also forwarded its report to the state auditor's office for its records, investigators said.