New story up on this:
Lawmakers launch effort to regulate kickboxing
Bipartisan push would put other combat sports under state oversight and on par with boxing, mixed martial arts
By John Diedrich of the Journal Sentinel
Feb. 18, 2015
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has launched a push to regulate kickboxing and other combat sports in Wisconsin, in response to the death last March of amateur Milwaukee fighter Dennis Munson.
The draft of a bill being circulated seeks to close a gap in the law by regulating all "unarmed combat sports" in Wisconsin, according to a memo sent to lawmakers from state Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), state Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Allouez) and state Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
Wisconsin law regulates boxing and mixed martial arts, a combination of disciplines that includes kickboxing. However, the state does not regulate stand-alone kickboxing events.
"The current rules and regulations governing these types of events are in place to ensure the safety of the participants," the memo sent this week to other lawmakers reads. "We see no reason why those same safeguards should not be expanded to all forms of unarmed combat."
The push to change state law comes after a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation into unregulated combat sports uncovered gaps in safety at such fights. In the Munson fight, a dozen independent experts who reviewed video of the match said the officials in charge of the bout failed to act on obvious signs of distress in the 24-year-old who was in his first match.
The video, obtained by the Journal Sentinel, shows the ringside doctor, Carlos Feliciano, looking at his cellphone at key moments during the fight; the corner coach, Scott Cushman, propping up Munson between rounds and slapping him after the fight, just before he collapsed; and referee Al Wichgers failing to evaluate Munson as his condition deteriorated.
Munson crumpled to the mat after the final bell, but medical treatment was delayed amid what records show were questions over his care and hang-ups exiting the 1920s-era building. The fight was promoted byRoufusport, a Milwaukee gym that has become a top trainer of fighters competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC.
In a separate unregulated kickboxing bout in November, a novice fighter with mental disabilities was promised $50 and a medal to fight Jesse Rowell, a seasoned fighter and promoter, who set up the kickboxing bout, the investigation found.
"These are only two of the countless stories that showcase problematic situations within the culture of unregulated fighting contests in our state," the lawmakers' memo said. "We are urgently trying to change the law so that ALL unarmed combat sports will be regulated in Wisconsin."
A Journal Sentinel review found that Wisconsin's law governing mixed martial arts lags behind states with the strongest rules in the key areas of prefight physicals for fighters, drug testing and the number of doctors required to be ringside.
The proposed bill, however, does not address those areas. Rather, it simply expands the disciplines covered. The bill would exempt unarmed combat matches at schools or colleges.
Fallout from fights
Following the Journal Sentinel investigation, Milwaukee police issued $699 tickets to promoters and venue operators responsible for the two events for violating the city's ordinance governing "ultimate fighting."
In addition, Milwaukee County Emergency Medical Services officials have filed a complaint against Curtis Ambulance, a private carrier hired to work the fight where Munson collapsed at the Eagles Club.
The county EMS office said Curtis should have taken Munson, who took repeated blows to the head during the fight, to Froedtert Hospital, the area's designated Level One trauma center, in accordance with county EMS policy.
Munson died hours after the fight. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death was complications from head trauma.
Curtis also failed to file an event plan with the Milwaukee Fire Department, as required by its contract with the city, the complaint says.
The state Department of Safety and Professional Services received complaints about the Munson fight but did not investigate it, saying it had no authority because kickboxing is not regulated. However, the key players in charge of safety that night — the referee, ringside doctor and corner coach — are all licensed by the state to serve in identical roles at MMA events.
On Wednesday, Kleefisch said of the bill, "It seems to make logical sense that precautions taken to protect lives in currently regulated fighting contests should be the same in matches where there is as much, if not more, risk of great bodily injury."
Hansen added, "It's clear from recent events that the same protections we put in place for mixed martial arts fighting need to be put in place for other unarmed combat sports like kickboxing. The health and safety of the athletes should be our top priority. This bipartisan bill will do just that."
The memo asks lawmakers to sign on as co-sponsors by Tuesday. The bill will then be introduced and sent to an Assembly committee.
http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/lawmakers-launch-effort-to-regulate-kickboxing-b99447149z1-292489111.html
