Long-time Chicago Promotional Rivals Join Forces

The two premier boxing promoters in the Chicagoland area say they are fed up with Illinois commission's recent spate of rules changes that, they say, make it much more difficult to promote an event in the state.

Bobby Hitz, Founder of Hitz Boxing and Domenic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, say they will meet together with state representatives this week with a list of grievances about the state's latest round of rule changes.

Already having recently increased their basic fees (some as high as 1000% or more), yesterday (November 1) Rafael Caro II, Public Service Administrator for the Illinois State Athletic Commission notified all licensed promoters of the changes, including the following (paraphrased):

There will be absolutely no deductions done for the Boxers/Contestants at any weigh-in and/or event.

Ringside physicians will not be doing physicals for any contestants... They must get physicals done by a MD or DO only, prior to the weigh-in.

ALL Boxers/Contestants must be licensed prior to the weigh-in.

(Boxers) are to pay all fees by check or money order only whenever they submit their application. Any seconds (cornermen) can get licensed no later than the weigh-in (no one will be allowed to license the day of event).

It is imperative and your sole responsibility to inform all professional boxers/contestants of these new changes. No exceptions will be given.

"Domenic and I have both carved out our niches in this market and I respect him for that. That's why we're coming together on this. They're going to force us both out of business," said Hitz of the rule changes. "They've punishing solid, long-time promoters just to make a point to a few bad apples who don't do their homework. Anyone whose done club shows knows opponents fall out. They're not making a fortune. Guys don't show up. Guys chicken out. Guys show up overweight. To make a show happen, sometimes you have to scramble to find an opponent till the last minute. Ask any promoter, that's how it's done. The new rules say you can't pay for any licenses at the weigh-in, can't get a physical by the ringside physician, you can only pay by check or money order... that's totally counterproductive to the sport. It's going to cripple a lot of shows unnecessarily."

Pesoli agrees. "I think they're killing the sport. This makes it harder for the promoters. We need to go to the commission and sit down work out some kind of agreement because the way this is being handled makes it very hard for the promoters and the fighters to put a show together. It's not like we're making millions of dollars and they're making it harder and harder. A permit to do a fight in Chicago went from $50 to $500 recently. How do you justify that kind of increase for a piece of paper? If you have 5-7 fights, it's $750 and if you have 10 fights, it's $1000. If this kind of stuff persists, how do we go forward?

Hitz has a show scheduled for November 23 and has been informed he will be expected to adhere to all the new rules for it.

"I'm willing to cancel my show if I have to do this. I'll end up losing more money if I don't. We are going to meet with the commission and hopefully we'll be able to hammer out an amicable solution for all parties. Boxing isn't like the NBA and NFL where you have millionaires arguing with billionaires. Domenic and I are grassroots guys putting out our money to keep a sport alive that we both love. If this week's meeting isn't productive, we're all going to have to start considering a work stoppage until it becomes a more fair climate to do business in again."