Shine Fight Promotions is set to host it’s third event this Saturday at the First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla. after moving to the venue from Virginia after that states commission failed to approve the event.
The Virginia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Program’s decision not to issue Shine Fights a promoter’s license last Friday was based on the promotion’s inability to provide mandatory documents, including evidence of a surety bond to cover fighters’ purses, said Mary Broz-Vaughan, director of communications for the Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
The Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission also expressed concerns over the event, but since they hold no jurisdiction on “Tribal Trust Lands” Shine Fights has been able to circumvent their authority.
There has been some concern that the Commission might attempt to intervene by issuing 60 day suspension to fighters participating in the event.
Not so say’s OPBC administrator Joe Miller who spoke to MMAWeekly.com.
“Oklahoma is not seeking an injunction to stop Shine Fights. We have absolutely no authority or jurisdiction on Tribal Trust Land. We are not taking any action at all in regard to Shine Fights.”
That still leaves cause for concern, especially for the fighters involved in the event, as there is no commission to oversee the event at all. Everything is now in the hands of the promoters to do the right thing in regards to paying fighters, making sure that adequate safety measures (such as having ringside medical personal and an ambulance on site) are in place, securing qualified referees and judges, and the like.