TEDDY ATLAS ASKS BOXING FANS, FIGHTERS, ET AL. TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED WITH ONLINE PETITION CALLING FOR A FEDERAL COMMISSION
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 May 2023
"The status quo is not acceptable. Boxing's survival begins with accountability and consequences of actions, or inaction," - Teddy Atlas
NEW YORK (May 23, 2023) -- Teddy Atlas, the Hall of Fame boxing analyst, trainer, podcast host, and philanthropist, has seen a lot throughout his career in boxing…and he has seen enough. Today, on THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas (Haney beats Lomachenko in Controversy | Sign Petition for Boxing Reform! - YouTube), the podcast he co-hosts with Ken Rideout, Atlas called for the establishment of a federal boxing commission and posted an online petition form in its support. Atlas also announced that his team will be presenting the petition and sharing their concerns with several elected officials to advance this issue before Congress. The petition can be accessed via this link, which also includes the embedded podcast segment addressing this issue. Online Petition Form | forms.app.
"Recent nationally televised professional boxing events have shown a spotlight on unacceptable performances inside and around the ring by officials appointed to maintain the integrity and consumer confidence of the sport," said Atlas. "While I recognize the human element is naturally fallible, I cannot, and I think many who love the sport of boxing agree, that this should be acceptable. The fighters who sacrifice so much in their training and risk their well-being inside the ring, deserve accountability and consequences for the actions, or inaction, by those responsible for the health and safety of the fighters. Officiating in boxing -- from the commission to the referees, judges, inspectors, et al. -- need to recognize this and step up. It's time for the entire process to be overhauled and elevated to the same standard of major league sports.
"There needs to be a centralized and standardized authority to supervise the sport of boxing, not unlike the way the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc. manage their affairs. In most cases, a position on a boxing commission is an act of political patronage. Where is the experience and knowledge required to do the job properly? Where are the public hearings? Over 20 years ago, the late promoter Dan Goossen tried to establish an official's school to train judges and referees, based on NFL protocols. That's just one idea that I think should be seriously considered."
Atlas, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019, has trained a roster of hall of fame fighters, including Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, Barry McGuigan, Shannon Briggs, and Timothy Bradley, Jr. He's been a boxing analyst with ESPN for 25 years and NBC Sports boxing coverage of the Olympics from 2000 to 2016. He founded the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, in memory of his father, in 1997, where it has come to the aid of people in a variety of difficult situations, people who otherwise fall between the cracks.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS TADURAN VS. PEREZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Fri, 03 Apr 2026PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
Fri, 03 Apr 2026Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
Fri, 03 Apr 2026Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
Fri, 03 Apr 2026PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 03 Apr 2026Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
Thu, 02 Apr 2026Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
Thu, 02 Apr 2026Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Waiting to beat Floyd
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 02 Apr 202620th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 02 Apr 2026Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 02 Apr 2026BROWN-DUCAR PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S ALTRINCHAM FIGHT NIGHT
Thu, 02 Apr 2026Wise Owl Boxing Makes Headlines Again with Signing of Former World Champion Julio Cesar “El Rey” Martinez
Thu, 02 Apr 2026Santiago-Taniguchi Final Presser
Wed, 01 Apr 2026Jimuel in Action on Friday!
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 01 Apr 2026