Jaafar's Boxing License Suspended By State

DEARBORN, MI — The state of Michigan has suspended the license of Dearborn-based Jaafar Boxing, LLC for 180 days stemming from an event held last October at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Promoter and owner Eddie Jaafar must also pay a fine of $5,000 plus administrative costs of $2,500, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

The state stripped Jaafar’s license because it claims he failed to file proper documentation with the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau. That documentation included signed contracts between the promoter and professional contestants, contest results, including a list of weights from the weigh-in, pre- and post-fight physical examination results, drug testing donor forms, scorecards, bout summary sheets, and a signed surety bond due within 48 hours after the event.

“It is important for the health and safety of all athletes, spectators, and officials for promoters to timely submit the paperwork required by the Unarmed Combat Regulatory Act to the bureau,” said CSCL Bureau Director Julia Dale. “Without it, the bureau cannot meet its obligations under state and federal law, including assisting other jurisdictions in ensuring that a contestant does not fight too soon after a serious injury, technical knockout, or a positive drug test.”

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Dearborn Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

For his part, Jaafar — who works with fighters from primarily Dearborn and Detroit and has run the business for about five years — says he attempted to get all of the paperwork to Lansing on time, but simply sent it to the wrong address. He think the penalty imposed by the state is too harsh.

“I’m going to appeal the ruling,” Jaafar said.

Michigan’s Unarmed Combat Commission issued a Final Order on June 27. Under the commission’s rules, Jaafar does have the right to appeal to the “appropriate Michigan court,” the commission said in a news release.

Jaafar said the Dearborn boxing show had 10 fights on the card and was well received by those who attended. “We got a great turnout,” he said. “They loved it. We had the best fight of the year in Michigan.”

Jaafar promotes boxing shows across the midwest. He was unsure if other states would honor Michigan’s six-month ban, if it stands up in court.

Meanwhile, Jaafar is concerned about the future of the sport in Michigan. He said rule changes made by the state last year, including promoters hiring referees and judges and making promoters responsible for submitting scorecards, could impune boxing’s integrity in the state.

“I’m against it,” Jaafar said, adding he would like to see Michigan follow the lead of other states where such duties are not left up to promoters.

The Unarmed Combat Commission was created by Michigan in 2004 to regulate professional boxing and mixed martial arts. In November 2015, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into a law a number of changes that were sent to his table by both the House and Senate. Changes went into effect on Feb. 10, 2016, according to a LARA document obtained by Patch.

Highlights of the changes published by the state did not touch on all of Jaafar’s points. The did include:

• Revise the responsibilities of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission and the responsibilities of the Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
• Vest the Commission and LARA with jurisdiction over all professional boxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and unarmed combat contests or events conducted in Michigan, and otherwise revise provisions relating to the scope of the Act.
• Revise and establish new regulations concerning the conduct of professional Boxing and professional and amateur MMA events.
• Revise and establish new requirements, including fees, regarding licenses issued under the Act.
• Require a promoter to ensure the availability of a contestant for drug testing, and delete a provision allowing the Commission or LARA to perform drug testing.
• Prohibit a promoter from conducting a professional boxing or professional or amateur mixed martial arts event unless at least one inspector is present at the event, and establish requirements for inspectors.
• Require LARA to initiate an action against an applicant or licensee under certain circumstances, and otherwise revise investigative procedures for LARA to follow in the event of a complaint alleging a violation of the Act.
• Establish new violations and penalties that would apply under the Act, including administrative sanctions and criminal penalties.

Photos from Facebook used with permission of Eddie Jaafar