The novel push by the California State Athletic Commission to boost the state fighter pension by accepting advertising on the backs of referee shirts has been denied by a bureaucratic maneuver to squelch the effort to make it law.
Despite the support of the commission, fighters including Ronda Rousey and the unanimous passage through two policy committees, California Assembly Bill 2130 was parked in the Suspense File and will not be voted upon this year.
BoxingScene has learned officials are currently plotting alternative methods that will allow corporate donations to California’s fighter pension fund, which has distributed several payments to veteran fighters who previously fought in the state.
In a March presentation campaigning for the bill’s passage, athletic commission officials projected that if they could generate $1 million in annual advertising for the next 20 years, the pension would gain $25.4 million to distribute $100,000 to $300,000 to boxers age 50 and older.
Boxers who’ve compiled 75 rounds and MMA fighters who’ve totaled 39 rounds of action in California are eligible for pension payments.
Assemblyman Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) crafted the bill, and Governor Gavin Newsom expressed support for it.
Newsom could’ve signed it into law as early as the new year had the bill avoided the Suspense File fate.
