Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

People and Pop Culture

Plugged In: Francisco Aguilar, Nevada Athletic Commission

Las Vegas attorney Francisco Aguilar was elected chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission on Halloween of last year. Two months later, he accepted the resignation of Keith Kizer, who had served as executive director of the group for seven years. As a result, Aguilar, whose day job is as general counsel of Agassi Graf Holdings, has been more engaged in the everyday workings of the nation’s premier combat sports commission than he could have expected.


We have an opportunity to play a significant role in the development of the sport, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity.


Photo by: SEVEN MAGAZINE
On the role of the modern commission: The biggest responsibility a commission has in combat sports is the health and safety of the fighter. It’s ensuring that the fighter is healthy enough to fight … and if they’re a new fighter, determining if they’re ready to go professional. And the other responsibility today is the drug testing. I think that’s where commissions have an opportunity to really have an impact on the future of the sport. We’re coming into new opportunities to conduct drug testing. Commissions really need to step up their responsibility and take a look at those options and take them seriously.

On the costs involved: If you look at Nevada, off our 6 percent ticket tax, we produce about $5.5 million for the state. However, through our appropriation from the state legislature and the governor, we fund the office with less than $500,000; only $500,000 comes back to the commission. The cost to do drug testing is substantial. I think we have an obligation as a state to figure out how we implement a [testing] program that can maintain itself into the future.

Adhering to rules vs. securing events: A promoter can always shop a fight; I get it. But Nevada is going to hold true to its rules. We’re not going to bend for somebody that wants something that we don’t think is in the best interest of the fighter from a health and safety standpoint. I understand the economic development discussion. This city thrives off major events. We’re a part of that formula. However, we’re not going to jeopardize anyone’s safety for that benefit.

On recent criticism of Nevada boxing judges: It’s our responsibility to ensure that we have the appropriate human capital in those seats doing the best job that they can, and we can’t expect the best out of them if we’re not going to provide them the training and resources to learn more than they know. … We know what our obligations are and we want to do what’s right and we’re going to do what’s right.

On becoming chairman: I never anticipated that I would engage at the level I’ve engaged as a chairman, but I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the sport, from what happens on a daily basis in the office to what the fighters’ concerns are to what our human capital faces — from the inspectors to the referees to the judges to the doctors.

— Bill King

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2014/03/31/People-and-Pop-Culture/Plugged-In.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2014/03/31/People-and-Pop-Culture/Plugged-In.aspx

CLOSE