Lenny Mangapione introduced two guest speakers from the Teamsters, who are trying to unionize boxing. Their efforts are being fought through JAB, who held their first big card at the Hammerstein Ballroom, which was sold out April 15th.

The talk of unionizing boxing has long been thought as a difficult and noble fight, and tonight’s speakers, Walter and Danny Kane provided some insight as to what their plan is to help bring standards to the sport that has been railroaded into near oblivion.

According to the two brothers, the process is long, but it (boxing) has reached a point where everyone is in the same boat, having the same interest at hand.

“You must learn to crawl before you can walk” said longtime Ring 8 member Henny Wallitsch, hoping for something better for the fighter — whether it means basic or standardized pay or a pension system.

But although the premise remains noble and forthright, there are some questions that persist, like:
How does medical insurance work for the four and six round fighter?
Do all fighters have to be unionized to fight?
With boxing so fractionalized, can the boxing community really come together?

Danny Kane was a teamster for 21 years, and his experience tells him that you cannot start a boxing union unless you try. Walter Kane also came up through the ranks, driving trucks and going to school at night and ultimately becoming a labor lawyer. They have put their minds to protecting the fighters who put the time and effort into their craft.

Other sports are competing every day, they get together. Boxing can’t compete, because they don’t have a plan. Other sports have gotten together as an industry because they understand that their competition is the other sports. Boxing, many people think the competition is each other, but its not. While boxing industry is infighting, boxing loses because boxing cannot get on television— the reason being baseball and football is being watched, taking up peoples time.

The reason why JAB was created was basically to see how boxing can compete in the marketplace. The time is for people to come together with some kind of plan and to get more exposure for the sport, which would be good for the promoters, good for the fighters, managers etc. “We thought that collective bargaining and starting that process was the step in the right direction.”

The process of unionizing the sport requires a step by step process that will have many obstacles, but one important factor is that many boxing towns are union towns. Detroit, New York, Philadelphia are all cohesive towns that cater to the boxing industry. Also contracts, if and when in question, can go through an arbitrary case instead of having a party, (many times a fighter) having little power to sue to get his paycheck.

EDDIE MUSTAFA MUHAMMED
Those here in New York have known Eddie Mustafa Muhammed, first as Eddie Gregory, NY Golden Gloves welterweight champion, then World light heavyweight champion, one who has stepped up when the pressure was on in the ring. A question was asked why Eddie was chosen for the leadership of the fighters.

“Eddie Mustafa Muhammed was the first guy who stepped up to the plate and starting doing things– talking to boxers, making telephone calls, going to the gyms, etc.” stated Kane, who mentioned that Eddie, after a six month process, has been member of the teamsters.

Tidbits: 77th Annual Golden Gloves finals concluded Friday night April 16th. A sold out audience saw as Daily News Columnist Tim Smith described “richest talent seen in years.” Both men and women were outstanding in the event, which were held over two nights.