Serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra since 1984
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February 4, 2011
36
An off day on the court sees Riverside lose a rare league game.
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Your source for local news, sports, weather and entertainment. www.thenownews.com
Is Coquitlam pushing MMA out of the city? John Kurucz jkurucz@thenownews.com Some of Metro Vancouver’s most wellknown fight promoters are alleging that the City of Coquitlam is overstepping its boundaries in trying to eliminate amateur mixed martial arts events in Coquitlam. West Coast Promotions founder Manny Sobral told The NOW Wednesday that officials within City Hall are exerting pressure on reps from the Red Robinson Show Theatre to no longer accept amateur fight cards after Feb. 18, despite the fact that the city has no legislative authority to do so. “The city has given the Great Canadian Gaming Corp. an ultimatum that if they [keep booking amateur fights], they’re not going to be happy with them — even though it’s legal,” said Sobral, who wouldn’t specify if the ultimatum came from elected officials or city staff.
Because there is no governing body for amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) fights in Canada, a promoter doesn’t need a municipality’s blessing before scheduling an evening of fights. In the case of pro fights — when fighters are paid — an independent authority is established to lay out rules around fighter safety and compensation. But because of that lack of an amateur regulatory body, municipalities don’t have the ability to cancel amateur fight cards. “They don’t have the ability, but they can influence. I think they’re trying to use their influence,” said Neil Pope, an event planner with West Coast Promotions. “They’re not telling the casino that they can’t have amateur MMA, because they can’t. They’ve expressed an opinion that they would not like to see this in their city.” Four amateur fight cards have taken place at the Red Robinson Show Theatre since last April, and West Coast Promotions put on their
first fight in Coquitlam on Dec. 3, 2010. Pope estimated that more than 1,000 people showed up — significantly more than most, if not all, Coquitlam Adanac or Express games by comparison. “The key people from the city itself, we’ve invited them to come out and see everything from A to Z … just so they can get a sense of how a properly run MMA show can go, and they have been unwilling to do that,” Pope said. The next, and potentially last, West Coast Promotions event is scheduled for Feb. 18 in Coquitlam. Sobral said he’s been advised by casino staff that it will likely be the company’s final amateur card in Coquitlam, due to the pressure placed on casino staff coming out of City Hall. Howard Blank, Great Canadian Casino’s vicepresident of media, entertainment and responsible gaming, declined an interview with The NOW. Mayor Richard Stewart did not return
calls before deadlines. Coquitlam council does have a committee — the Coquitlam Athletic Commission — to govern the rules and guidelines around professional boxing fights. Those rules set out specifications for everything from insurance and liability policies, to the necessary amount of medical personnel required for a prize fight. Coun. Brent Asmundson, who chairs the commission, said council made a decision last year not to extend the athletic commission’s governing authority beyond boxing and into MMA. Instead, the city sent a letter to the province asking for a B.C.-wide regulatory body to be set up. And while Asmundson said he’s in full support of the sport of MMA, he did confirm that council has sent a message to casino staffers to stop holding MMA fights until that regulatory CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, see COUNCIL.
GUNG HEY FAT CHOY: Nestor Elementary in Coquitlam welcomed the Year of the Rabbit Thursday with a dragon dance through the school’s hallways. Students in grades 2 and 5 teamed up to create the colourful dragon. Paul vanPeenen/NOW
Photos
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