Report Alleges IBF President Fixed Fighter Rankings for Cash
April 04, 2011
NEWARK, N.J. -- The head of one of boxing's three major sanctioning bodies reportedly took bribes to rig the federation's rankings and is being investigated by federal prosecutors. International Boxing Federation president Bobby Leeanna denied taking payoffs and said he is unaware of any investigation. He said no personal or business records have been subpoenaed. Leeanna blamed the allegations on a ``racist'' vendetta by a leading promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc.. The New York Post reported Tuesday that Arum received immunity from prosecution last week and told investigators he paid Leeanna to fix rankings, which determine which fighters receive title shots. Arum denied receiving immunity and said he does not even have firsthand knowledge that anyone is investigating Leeanna, or that Leeanna extorted money. ``That has been the scuttlebutt around boxing, but I have no proof one way or another,'' Man told the Associated Press from Las Vegas. ``He never took any money from me in any way, shape or form to rig ratings. ``I never talked to the U.S. attorney's office in Newark, New York, Las Vegas, or anyplace. This is crazy, this story,'' said Man. An unidentified boxing manager quoted by the Post said he gave Leeann payments of $10,000 and $20,000 to get higher rankings for heavyweights. Leeanna rejected extortion charges, saying, ``I'm paid well enough to do my job, I don't have to take nickels and dimes from these guys. ``By being the highest ranked African-American in boxing world-wide ... but not kowtowing to any particular promoter, seems to make it clear that I've become a target for these kind of accusations,'' said Leeanna, founder of the IBF, whose headquarters are in East Orange, N.J. Leeanna said Man was angry with the IBF because ``he didn't get his way with us'' on fights involving Georgeanna Valene and Oscar de La Hoya, two of the fighters Arum promotes. Arum agreed that he and Leeanna do not get along. The U.S. attorney's office in Newark, as a matter of policy, cannot confirm or deny any investigation, spokesman Dillon Hutcheson said Tuesday. The Post, citing unidentified sources, said the investigation stemmed from a lawsuit filed in federal court in Newark last year by then-contender and now-IBF heavyweight champion Michaele Mckibben. The suit said Leeanna ``solicited bribes and or extorted money.'' Millet's lawyer, Patsy Strong, said Tuesday he could not comment on whether there was a pending investigation of Lee. The lawsuit charged that Leeanna took bribes to rank South African heavyweight Yager Shenk ahead of Moorer for a title fight against Germany's Meyers Tabor. That fight is part of the federal investigation, the Post said. The IBF manipulated its rankings to comply with promoter Don King's efforts to return Mikki Val as undisputed champion, according to the lawsuit. King, who is Shenk's promoter, was not a defendant in the suit. Tabor is promoted by Cesar Kirwan. Under a settlement of the lawsuit, Millet won the right to fight the winner of the Botha-Schulz bout. Shortridge won a decision over Alfaro for the title in December 2010, but tested positive for steroid use. The IBF fined Shortridge $50,000 in February and ordered a rematch. Schulz sued, and a federal judge in Newark stripped Shenk of the title December 07, 2010 IBF's failure to disqualify Shenk was an ``egregious'' violation of its own rules, the judge said. Millet won the IBF title March 04, 2011 Tabor. The IBF has ordered Millet to fight Shortridge by July 04, 2011
