Oversight group hits boxer Chavez
Now the real fight begins.
The Nevada Athletic Commission late Wednesday released its findings of fact and legal justification in the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. puff-of-smoke controversy. The state commission that governs boxing voted 3-2 to fine Chavez $900,000,
30 percent of the $3 million purse he received for a Sept. 15 fight in Las Vegas against Sergio Martinez, and suspend the boxer for nine months. The decision was signed by NAC Chairman Bill Brady.
Chavez attorney Donald Campbell has promised to appeal the decision on the grounds the size of the fine is excessive and violates the Constitution.
The suspension is scheduled to be lifted June 16 if Chavez pays the fine and produces a negative test for marijuana trace elements.
I’m beginning to think Chavez will still be busy litigating the issue.
WEIGHTY ISSUE: A fit and trim former Las Vegas Sands President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Weidner has been in District Judge Rob Bare’s courtroom this week to testify as a hostile witness in the litigation pitting Richard Suen against the casino company.
It wasn’t surprising that Weidner testified that he believed Suen was owed compensation for his effort to get the company licensed in Macau. Nor was it shocking that Weidner had few kind words to say about his soured relationship with former friend Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.
What was comment-worthy was the fact that Weidner has trimmed down and improved his physical conditioning since meeting with Suen in Macau more than a decade ago. Suen’s attorneys flashed a photo of their client with Weidner smiling for the camera in Macau and looking very, ahem, prosperous.
“I don’t remember being that fat,” Weidner said.
Suen attorney James Pisanelli offered, “I’ll represent to you Richard Suen said the same thing about himself.”
Weidner went on to state that he believed the company had a “moral responsibility” to compensate Suen for his effort to attempt to secure a coveted casino license for Sands in Macau.
A trial jury in 2008 awarded Suen $43.8 million.
That decision was overturned in 2010 by the state Supreme Court. Weidner’s testimony continued Thursday afternoon.
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION: A 34-page motion filed this week by the U.S. attorney’s office and Department of Justice Criminal Division Fraud Section, which seeks to intervene and halt the discovery process in the civil litigation filed by casino titan Steve Wynn against estranged investment partner Kazuo Okada, is causing a stir.
The government’s motion asserts that its criminal investigation might be harmed by further discovery disclosure in the civil case. A copy of the motion is available on my blog at www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs.
Okada continues to keep his press responses brief in the wake of the news of a federal criminal investigation into possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in association with his pursuit of a casino license in the Philippines.
“Universal is cooperating fully with all investigations,” a company spokesperson said, declining further comment.
Interestingly, Okada’s representatives haven’t continued to press publicly for further investigation into Wynn’s eyebrow-raising $135 million donation to the University of Macau.
HERE’S THE PITCH: The Las Vegas 51s, this season an affiliate of the New York Mets, start their home schedule at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Cashman Field against Colorado.
Of course, the 51s aren’t the only athletes with big-league dreams. The Las Vegas Rebels elite club baseball team plays host to a national tournament for players 12-and-under starting April 19 at Doc Romeo Park.
ON THE BOULEVARD: Marge Van Hoove was one of many largely unheralded people who have helped Senate Majority leader Harry Reid reach the pinnacle of American politics. The dedicated Van Hoove died April 6 at age 72.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.
