Commission loses the
commissioner with the most extensive boxing background when unexplainably
Chairman Lee H. Peters was not re-appointed.DENVER, CO (INSIDE BOXING) - The Colorado State Boxing Commission loses the
commissioner with the most extensive boxing background when unexplainably
Chairman Lee H. Peters was not re-appointed.
The tireless volunteered hours Lee H. Peters devoted to making boxing safe in Colorado is second to none. Having been appointed to various National Boxing Commission committees over the last 25 years Peters is not only respected in the Colorado boxing community but the national boxing community as well.
Being a past Minnesota Golden Gloves Champion from 1959-1962 Peters knows full well what the concerns and desires of boxers are. His decision to help establish a Colorado Boxing Commission required many unpaid volunteer hours. But Lee H. Peters' only concern was for Colorado to become recognized nationally as a place where boxing is considered safe and clean.
The Colorado Boxing Alliance, Inc. boasts Lee H. Peters as it's founding member. Regional Planning Committees and selection as a delegate to represent Colorado in numerous organizing attempts to have the State regulate boxing are part of the dedication shown by Peters to ensure quality, safe and competitive boxing in Colorado.
When the Colorado Boxing Commission was approved and selections for commission members started, the Republican Speaker of the House and State Representative from Rifle, Russell George, immediately chose Lee H. Peters.
The appointment of Lee H. Peters as chairman provided the newly founded Colorado Boxing Commission with instant credibility. The duties bestowed upon Peters were varied and numerous. But typical of Peters he ardently began the tough task ahead of organizing and coordinating Commission activities along with Director Josef Mason.
Lee H. Peters was a familiar sight at most boxing matches held in Colorado since his appointment in June of 2000. Unlike some commission members who chose not to attend even one event, the dedication of Peters was paralleled only to that of Director Josef Mason.
But as of June 29, 2001 Lee H. Peters' affiliation with the Colorado Boxing Commission is no more. He has been replaced and no one seems to know why. Although, in fairness, Peters was himself a political appointee, Representative Russell George had the insight to ask around and throw his hat in the ring for a person who truly deserved the job.
None of the other Colorado Boxing Commissioners voice any disapproval of the job done by Peters. M. Michael Cooke who is the head of the Colorado Regulatory Agency (which oversees the Boxing Commission) had no problem with the job done by Peters and seemed to be rather shocked that he was not retained. She too cannot get a phone call returned by the new Speaker of the House regarding the decision to oust Peters.
Mr. Rex Walker, WBC (World Boxing Council) National and International Representative was not only shocked but disgusted with the news Peters had not been re-appointed. "It is with great disappointment and disgust that I have been informed Lee Peters is no longer a member of the Colorado Boxing Commission", said Walker. "The people of the State of Colorado should be outraged and demand an explanation as to what or who decided the reputation and dedication of Lee Peters was inadequate. As far as I know Bill Artist has absolutely no boxing background. The position of Commissioner requires someone that knows the ins and outs of the boxing game. There is no one more qualified than Lee Peters", finished Walker.
The news of the new appointee further clouds the future of the Colorado Boxing Commission. Anyone selected to replace Lee H. Peters would surely have the equivalent or superior experience of the ousted past chairman…wouldn't he?
Mr. Bill Artist, who is well known in the Colorado community as a vocal lobbyist for the new Denver Bronco stadium that will be ready for the 2001 season opener, will be expected to select a Commission Doctor as one of his first duties. None of the most recognized ringside doctors in Colorado has ever heard of Bill Artist.
With no boxing background to speak of, there can only be one answer as to why Artist was appointed and Peters let go.
The new Republican Speaker of the House is one Douglas Dean, the Representative from Colorado Springs. With Lee H. Peters being a Republican who had done an admirable job in his first term as commissioner, there would seemingly be no reason to keep him from continuing the job.
Peters verifies that early in the year 2001 he had a chance meeting with Dean where he introduced himself and advised Dean that he would be forwarding his resume as a simple courtesy and mere formality to his being retained as boxing commissioner.
Since that time Douglas Dean has been in the news for using poor judgment outside of the political arena. Having been accused of chasing his girlfriend down the street in hot pursuit with a screwdriver (not the drink) in hand, Dean has been low profile to say the least.
The class act that he is, Peters will go no further with his disappointment other than to say that he "relished the opportunity to be selected a Colorado Boxing Commissioner in it's inaugural season" and wishes them nothing but the best in the future.
INSIDE BOXING will not be quite as classy.
New Republican Speaker of the House, Douglas Dean, has appointed Mr. Bill Artist as a political favor. Phone calls requesting information as to how Artist was selected and why Peters not re-appointed go unanswered by INSIDE BOXING as well as various other interested parties.
Some members of the Republican party (who request anonymity) who also cannot get a return phone call regarding the Peters situation are outraged at the way the whole thing has been handled.
Had Bill Artist been chosen sporting an extensive boxing background there probably would not have been much of an uproar. Had Chairman Lee H. Peters been accused of doing a lousy job there probably would not have been much of an uproar. This is not the case in either instance.
Maybe Bill Artist will do an admirable job as a boxing commissioner. Maybe the Colorado Boxing Commission job (which pays no salary) is something he has always wanted.
Let's hope so. Because if he doesn't immediately do something spectacular specifically affecting the quality of boxing in Colorado the stench of dirty politics will fill the air.
At this point, Colorado has been relegated to what the majority of boxing purists have long hoped to avoid. That is, becoming politically motivated.
The termination of Lee H. Peters probably precedes that of Josef Mason, Ralph Dabney, Norman Sherbert, Stephen Traina, Daniel Miraflor and finally Stephen Zotos. They surely cannot be confident their place is secure.
All being a part of the "Magnificent Seven" formed to get the Colorado Boxing Commission off the ground, their enthusiasm can be jeopardized by the part politics has played in one decision.
We can soon expect to see the same faces in the best seats at the new Bronco Stadium sitting in the same best seats at Colorado prizefights. When the politics surface in any regime the focus, commitment, and dedication suffer.
Unless someone or some organization has the guts to step up and speak out on the obvious political back room negotiations underway, The Colorado Boxing Commission will be nothing other than a stepping stone for others with higher political ambitions.
Stephen S. Johnson 07/10/01