I am a USA Boxing registered and certified amateur boxing coach.  In 2015, I coached over 70 boxers age 8 and up in the Richmond Police Athlete League (PAL) Boxing gym.   This well-structured amateur boxing program is a tool we use to fulfill our Richmond Virginia Police Athletic League (PAL) mission and slogan for the youth “Making Kids Champions in Life”.

I strongly urge you to either REPEAL OR EXEMPT AMATEUR BOXING from the law that went into effect October 1, 2015 putting amateur boxing under the VA Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations and MAKE USA BOXING the GOVERNING BODY and SANCTIONING ORGANIZATION for ALL AMATEUR BOXING IN VA.  I also strongly OPPOSE HOUSE BILL 1228 of January 19, 2016.  If this bill passes there will be no amateur boxing in Virginia. Results of that action will punish the boxers that the sport helps in so many aspects of their life.

I have noticed that on this Town Hall Comment website that there are a few individuals that supports House Bill 1228 of January 19, 2016 for reason they want the kids and athletes to have rules to protect their safety.  I don’t think that any of them are involved in amateur boxing.  It would be good for EVERYONE to understand there are vast differences between the different amateur and professional sports and agree that the different amateur and professional sports should have different rules and regulations.  None of the amateur sports rules and regulations and for certain amateur boxing rules and regulations should be grouped together with any professional sport or any other amateur sport such as wrestling and martial arts.  

I think it is necessary for me to clearly state that no amateur sport in Virginia or the entire United States are any safer and protects the athletes, coaches, officials and all that participate in the amateur boxing sport more than the present 71 pages of USA Boxing Amateur Boxing Competition and Technical Rules in addition to their Bylaws, policies and procedures that all USA Boxing members must follow.  Every USA Boxing non-athlete member including coaches and officials must be registered, pass a background check, be certified, take Safe Sport training and pass the test, attend a certification and re-certification clinic every 24 month and pass the test with questions about the rules and regulations of amateur boxing.

I thank you for allowing me to give you my comments that I feel are very important to protect and preserve our present outstanding USA Boxing Amateur Boxing program in our great Commonwealth of Virginia.