NAC duo have terms extended
September 18, 2010 - 11:00 pm
Jim Gibbons' days as Nevada's governor are numbered, but before he leaves office, he impacted boxing in the state by extending the terms of Pat Lundvall and Bill Brady on the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Gibbons initially appointed both in 2007, and their new terms will run through Oct. 31, 2013.
"This is the best gig in the world," said Lundvall, a practicing attorney who lives in Las Vegas. "I only wish I could do it full time."
Brady, a Las Vegas businessman, said of his return to the commission: "I love contact sports, and to be so close to it and be part of the process has been the thrill of a lifetime. It's the best job I've ever had."
Lundvall and Brady want to continue championing fighter safety causes, particularly head injuries. They also want to keep Nevada current when it comes to testing for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
"We've been big on the medical side of things, and we're going to spend more time on head injuries," Brady said. "Fighter safety is absolutely our first priority, and it always will be."
Lundvall said in addition to making sure fighters are protected, she wants to make Nevada more friendly for promoters who do business in the state.
"I hate losing fights to any state," she said. "We need to be open-minded when it comes to applications and ensure we make it as easy as possible for promoters to do business (in Nevada)."
Still to be determined is who will serve as chairman of the commission. Lundvall, the current chair, will see her term end Oct. 31.
"I don't know what will happen," said Brady, who was the chairman in 2009. "But if they want me to be chairman again, I would be comfortable with it."
■ KHAN-MAIDANA AT MANDALAY BAY -- Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer Richard Schaefer said he will have a fight card Dec. 11 at Mandalay Bay Events Center with WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan defending his title against Marcos Maidana.
Khan (23-1, 17 knockouts) dominated Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 in his most recent fight, winning by technical knockout in the 11th round. Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) got his shot at Khan's title after taking a 12-round unanimous decision over DeMarcus Corley last month in Maidana's hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
■ STILL WAITING -- The Nov. 27 lightweight showdown between Juan Manuel Marquez and Michael Katsidis still is looking for a venue as Schaefer weighs whether to pay the extra costs to have the MGM Grand Garden set up for boxing on short notice.
Former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters is performing in concert there the night before, and with HBO planning to televise the fight, it needs to have its cameras in place in time. For that to happen, the workers who convert the arena from a concert venue to boxing would have to be paid at least time-and-a-half. Those costs would be passed on to Golden Boy.
"I'm not sure I can afford it. We want to fight at the MGM, but we're not going to lose money to do it," Schaefer said, noting he hoped to have a final decision this week on a venue for the fight.
Contact sports reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or at 702-387-2913.