John McCain: 'I Still Say Boxers Need a Union ... They Need to Have Retirement Benefits'

John McCain has long been a supporter of reforming the sport of boxing, and it sounds as though he'll continue to make that a pet issue if he ends up in the White House.

In an interview with ESPN's Bob Ley that was taped over the weekend and will be shown for the first time on Tuesday's 9 a.m. ET SportsCenter, McCain reiterates his belief that boxers should unionize.

This comes from a partial transcript that ESPN provided today:

Bob Ley: "You were a boxer. I know you love the sport. You had a role in several pieces of legislation. What is the state of the sport that you love so much?"
Sen. John McCain: "I don't think it's as good as it could be. I think pay per view has had unintended consequences as well as intended, and it has narrowed the viewing audience. You see this ultimate fighting filling in a bit of a vacuum there. I'm a proud conservative, I still think it is the sport that needs a union because these are the people with the shortest spans of participation. They need to have retirement benefits, and they need it as badly or worse than any professional sport."

I agree with McCain that most boxers would be better off if all boxers unionized, but I also think there is approximately zero chance that the handful of boxers who make millions or tens of millions of dollars a fight will ever agree to join forces with the thousands of boxers who make hundreds or thousands of dollars a fight. And since the ones who command millions are the ones the promoters care about, I don't think the promoters will ever agree to negotiate with a boxing union.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-15-2008 @ 8:03PM

Walter Grinspan said...

I can't believe that I would ever believe I would agree with anything Senator McCain stood for. On his stance on voting over a dozen times against raising the minimum wage, on his stance against recognizing MLK's birthday as a state holiday, his position regarding abortion, stem cell research, the economy, the war, and oh, so many right (wrong) wing positions...but a union for boxers (and for wrestlers) and for other atheletes is so long aborning. What the boxers need is a guy like Marvin Miller and some champion to espouse unionization for all of them. Especially for a benefit package that covers medical care, and a pension that would provide an income after their fighting days were over. Right on, McCain, and now if you'd change (again) your positions on the mendtioned items you would be a true statesman.

9-19-2008 @ 11:31AM

BobMc said...

I think McCain must also play football without a helmet to make such a stupid statement about Boxer's be unionize.When he the biggest Anti-Union quy.Boxers choose this professional workplace like any other American choose to do in life to make a living.McCain want to start telling Americans he the REFORMER that Americans needs and this is the answer to reform Professional Boxing.Boxers need good health care and pension says McCain but sorry rest of Americans,you are on your own.C'mom Americans, we are better this this !!!

9-19-2008 @ 1:19PM

Inglewood Ca said...

Es una verguenza que los boxeadores no tengan UNION

9-19-2008 @ 3:59PM

j hernandez said...

this is a pro sport ,like so many others, that you are at your best at a very young age. and more than likely not very mature. now add that with a million or so and what do you think you will have in ten , eleven years? lets set the stage for our pro boxers to live in comfort with a small peice of mind that they deserve, after all the lights , cameras and larry merchant are gone. this is the least they should have after all they sacrifice for the love of this great sport and our pure entertianment. lets put this together . and for the love of god keep don king out of it.