Open Letter to TDLR Combative Sports Division from AUSA Boxing:
Greetings this is going on my website because I switch hats from boxer to commentator this is the hat you are most familiar with until …..(Best left unsaid). This regards licensing issues of other boxers, promoters, and even fellow news venues. I will address the issues in format of first removing clouds of doubt then onto the concrete documented of wrong doing the facts that are not in dispute.
Second until cleared by the New Mexico Attorney office or other non tribal entity Lenny Fresquez has be forbidden to have anything to do with Texas boxing. The scenario of Victoria Cisneros being at the venue as a spectator then suddenly being able to fight stretches credulity well beyond the breaking point. It is the best of my knowledge unprecedented. Sue Fox and Chris Cozzone admit that the event is without precedent. Friday night for the first time in history we the boxing public are asked to believe that it was coincidence that Victoria Cisneros was there as a spectator but happened to be ready to fight. Do I have evidence to back up that anything shady happened? No but I have talked to many boxing fans and even other boxers. Credulity is stretched beyond the breaking point. Till he is cleared by law a third party beyond the Isleta commission. He has no business in at least Texas. An investigation by an outside party needs to occur before the boxing community can trust Lenny. He should have known how unbelievable the scenario was. With Holm's initial refusals to have a witness from camp Hernandez to witness Lenny was given the scape goat for the fight not going through. The boxing public needs reassurance that was not all planned in advance. I will state I am functioning on the presumption of guilt. The events are so out of the ordinary that in my opinion the presumption of guilt seems logical.
In the same vein till Victoria Cisneros is cleared of wrong doing and it is shown that she arrived as a spectator she has business fighting in Texas. A suspension or at least DO NOT FIGHT IN Texas request is called for. Due to conflict of interest I would like that clearance of wrong doing to come from a New Mexico law enforcement entity or at least the regulators of boxing in New Mexico. Even though the bout occurred in Isleta territory a full investigation by the regulatory authority of New Mexico could dispell the smell. Her story maybe legit. To many boxing fans it seems though unbelievable. Like I said to the best of my knowledge and the knowledge of others it has never occurred. The events as described of her as a spectator could have indeed played out but they seem to many boxing fans, boxers highly improbable. Her record did not merit the fight any way. Assurance from an outside entity needs to occur to pass the smell test. Till that smell test is passed she does not deserve to fight in Texas. If I I were in her position I would be screaming that I be cleared by an outside entity. I will readily admit that this is a presumption of guilt. I will repeat the presumption of guilt is there because of the extreme improbability of the chain of events.
Next we get to the antics of WBC http://www.womenboxing.com/NEWS2009/news120709wbc.htm there are facts in in dispute they by getting involved have provided reasons not to be permitted to business in Texas due what is known and why I feel Holly Holm needs to face a suspension in Texas. WBC should not be permitted to be in Texas till they reverse position on the actions of Melissa Hernandez. Melissa acted in her best interest her warm up routine disrupted; her distrust of the sanctioning body was earned by the actions of the sanctioning body. Future boxers need to act in a matter similar to hers. You are aware of the conviction of NY state official who allowed wraps with hardening substances applied.
Even those who like Holly Holm do not dispute that she initially and repeatedly denied the opportunity for Team Hernandez to witness the wrapping of her hands. It is also not in dispute that Commission at Isleta sided with Holly. Even though the commission sided with Holly she brazenly acted in a way to disrupt the outcome of the fight before she entered the ring. I would like to see a 180 day suspension. I do not care if the commission sided with her. She acted in an unbecoming way. This is also not in dispute. Hand wraps are a safety issue and repeatedly ignored a routine safety oriented request.
To be fair to team Holm the idea of any boxer expecting anything near fair treatment in New Mexico when fighting Holly Holm is stupid. There are many a Texas boxer who know what to expect in New Mexico:(Insert long stream of appropriate Spanish expletives here).
What happened Friday night New Mexico many boxing fans feel is an unbelievable set of circumstances. I hate to be advocating guilt until proven innocence but well the events of Friday night are INCREDIBLE. Till actions are taken to bolster the story by an outside entity the participants need to be told do not fight in Texas.
I feel the actions of WBC are uncalled for. Melissa was justified in her refusal when the Isleta commission initially sided with Holly Holm's refusal to have her hands rewrapped. Only an idiot would expect fair treatment on Holm's turf. Safety though which the wrapping of the hands Mellissa's warm up routine was disrupted by actions of both the Isleta commission and Holly Holm It is not disputed that Holly Holm refused more the once to have a representative of Team Hernandez to witness the wrapping of her hands. Had Holly acted differently the fight would have gone on. I feel that Holly initiated the action and in doing so lost her credibility as a boxer and does not belong in boxing ring regulated in Texas for a while. With my tongue firmly in cheek I will suggest that if not suspended she should be forced to fight under the ring nickname "La Polla Gringa" in Texas at least.
In conclusion the clouds of doubt exist because of a chain of events that probably never happened in the history of boxing. The TDLR needs to make sure those clouds of doubt are long gone before the participants are allowed to have anything to do with boxing in the state of Texas. Yes for one last time I will repeat the presumption of guilt is called for. There are parties that acted in bad faith that need to be punished by the state of Texas Holm and WBC.