Boxing: Ali presses Congress for national boxing commission

CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Muhammad Ali asked Congress on Thursday to create a U.S. Boxing Commission, saying oversight by the federal government is needed to protect boxers from exploitation and injury.

Ali's testimony before a congressional panel in Washington was read by his wife, Lonnie Ali.

"Reform measures are unlikely to succeed," Ali said, "unless a U.S. Boxing Commission is created with authority to oversee a sport that still attracts a disproportionate number of unsavoury elements that prey upon the hopes and dreams of young athletes."

Legislation authored by Senator John McCain, (R-Ariz.) would create a three-person commission appointed by the president to license boxers, managers, promoters and sanctioning organizations.

It would impose uniform health and safety standards, establish a centralized medical registry and provide uniform ranking criteria and contractual guidelines.

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Is that really something that the govenment should be involved with? And waht happens when the fights happen outside of the US? Certainly, I don't want to see the fighters be taken advantage of, but is this realy the way ot protect them?