Document text
Pro-boxing fee could help amateurs Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Jonny Mancilla, 10, of Medford works out at Bulldog Boxing in Medford. A state bill that would add a $1 surcharge on professional boxing tickets would raise money to help kids like Jonny travel to amateur competitions. Atkinson bill seeks to help clubs pay competition expenses By Dani Dodge When Ed Clarke took his small amateur boxing team to compete in Nevada recently, it was a quick trip from Klamath Falls and back. They left early in the morning, competed in the afternoon, and drove home through the night. The Klamath Falls team, like most of the 25 amateur boxing teams in Oregon � including Medford�s Bulldog Boxing, have little money for training and traveling. But Sen. Jason Atkinson, a Jacksonville Republican, is sponsoring a bill at the request of Bulldog Boxing�s Joe Pedrojetti to change the situation. Senate Bill 209 would raise money to help amateur boxers get to their matches by imposing a $1 surcharge on tickets to professional boxing matches. It is expected to be heard in committee next week. "This makes me feel good to help on bills like this," Atkinson said. "To me this is the the-world-is-a-better-place kind of legislation." Pedrojetti said the bill, modeled after a similar law in Nevada, could raise $5,000 to $10,000 a year for amateur boxers in Oregon. But Pedrojetti stresses that the money wouldn�t just benefit boxing, it would help the community in general. Boxing attracts kids who otherwise may be misdirected and overly aggressive. "Boxing pinpoints that pocket of kids," he said. "We are trying to teach them and do teach them to control their emotions and have discipline. "We take these kids having problems and turn them around." Southern Oregon has three clubs, two small ones in Ashland and Klamath Falls and the 100-member Bulldog Boxing that Pedrojetti founded six years ago. Pedrojetti also is involved in professional boxing � he�s chairman of the Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission. Under the bill, the commission would collect and distribute the surcharge to amateur boxers. Pedrojetti said he doesn�t think the fee would affect attendance at professional matches. "I don�t see it being a problem with promoters," he said. "All the professionals come through amateur boxing and that�s a minimal price to pay for the talent." He said having the ability to go to matches will give amateurs the additional motivation to excel. "The success of the program comes from competing and enjoying competition," Pedrojetti said. "Kids won�t work in a program where they can�t compete." And Clarke said just a few extra dollars would really make the difference to his 15-member Klamath Falls boxing group, called Self Defense Club. "There�s no money generated by amateur boxing and this would send some our way," he said. "It sounds like a winner from my perspective." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.