Bill Brady resigns from Nevada Athletic Commission

Claiming his heart was no longer in it, Bill Brady has resigned his position as commissioner with the Nevada Athletic Commission.

His resignation, which was sent to Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday, is effective immediately.

“I thought this through very carefully,” Brady, 69, said Friday from his summer home in Juneau, Alaska. “I’ve been thinking seriously about it for the last four months. I just don’t have the time or the heart to do it anymore.”

Brady, whose family company Brady Industries is a longtime member of the Las Vegas business community, was initially appointed to the commission in 2007 by then-Gov. Jim Gibbons. He was reappointed in 2010 and for a third time in 2013.

In his resignation letter, Brady said: “I have a profound respect and love for the fighters, judges, referees, staff and those associated with the fight world in Nevada and beyond. It has been an honor of a lifetime for me to serve on the NAC. I have given my very best to the Commission for over seven years now and I believe I have contributed in a positive way during that time.

“To all things in life there is a season, and I believe my season on the Nevada Athletic Commission must now come to an end so that another exciting season may begin.”

NAC chairman Francisco Aguilar said he did not see Brady’s resignation coming.

“No, not at all,” Aguilar said. “A lot of what I know is due to Bill. He taught me a lot, and I’m forever grateful to him for what he did for the commission.”

Aguilar said he has not reached out to Sandoval about Brady’s replacement. The position on the commission is an appointed one by the governor.

“I have not had any conversations with the governor,” Aguilar said. “He’s obviously aware of the situation. But he’s a little busy right now with the Legislature. So for now, we will continue our work with the four remaining commissioners.”

The commission will be busy in the weeks ahead. Next Friday, there are proposed changes to NAC rules regarding drug use and there will be proposals to toughen the penalties for violators.

Next month, the commission is expected to have boxer Manny Pacquiao appear to explain why he might have perjured himself on his prefight medical questionnaire prior to his fight last Saturday against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden.

Pacquiao fought with an injured right shoulder and was seeking to have an anti-inflammatory shot administered prior to entering the ring. The commission denied Pacquiao’s request, claiming he indicated on his form that he was not hurt. Pacquiao lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Mayweather. On Wednesday, he had surgery in Los Angeles to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Brady said the Pacquiao incident and the aftermath may have been the final straw for him.

“I know this man, he has always been an honorable person,” Brady said of Pacquiao. “I find it offensive that he’s being sued and ridiculed. It truly breaks my heart.”

Brady had made much of his legacy as a commissioner about fighter safety. He said he does want to see cheating stopped in boxing and mixed martial arts. But he has stated publicly that he’s uncomfortable taking away larger portions of a fighter’s purse in order to get the message across.

“I think there’s a difference between someone like Mayweather, who made millions and millions of dollars, and some kid who’s making a thousand bucks,” Brady said. “To have the same penalties applied equally, I have a real problem with that.”

By taking himself out of the process, Brady won’t have to deal with whatever criticism comes the NAC’s way from its pending decisions on Pacquiao and the plan to increase penalties for those who break the rules. And he’s fine with that.

“The best part of this job was getting to know these fighters as people,” Brady said. “I had no idea about all the hard work that goes into preparing for a fight. But this position allowed me to see things much differently and gain a true appreciation for what these fighters go through, both in boxing and in MMA. I also had no idea how hard it is to put on a fight and the hard work the people on the commission put in just so we can have a fight.

“But it’s time to move on. The thing is, I’ve always given 110 percent to anything I’ve ever done. It’s been an honor to serve on the commission. But the energy’s just not there anymore.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.