By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Cameron Cooper, an EBCI tribal member, has been selected to serve as a commissioner on the North Carolina Boxing Authority which oversees all combat sports in the state. He is the first person from western North Carolina to ever serve on the Authority.
Cameron Cooper, an EBCI tribal member, has been selected to serve as a commissioner on the North Carolina Boxing Authority which oversees all combat sports in the state. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather)
“They are a regulatory body so anything and everything that deals with boxing such as a promoter needing a license, a referee needing a license, or a fighter needing a license, they provide them,” said Cooper. “It’s to keep the fighters protected and the promoters protected. It’s just a regulatory body for anything that deals with combat sports.”
Cooper, a huge fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), said that combat sports are growing in North Carolina and related that the state is ranked in the top ten in the number of night events it is hosting.
He said he is hoping to work with the other commissioners to promote the state and attract larger-scale events. “We want to try to get North Carolina on the map as a fighting state. It would be great to see that and add more UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and Bellator matches which are big names. I know UFC has been here before, and it’d be great to have them back.”
“Our job is just to keep everybody safe and see what we can do for North Carolina,” said Cooper.
He said he could also help people wishing to get into the realm of promoting fights. “Hopefully, I could help facilitate that and help them along. They would at least have a connection in this area.”
Information from the N.C. Boxing Authority states, “In 2013/14 FY, the Boxing Authority issued more than 1,400 licenses to promoters, matchmakers, managers, cornermen, judges, referees, timekeepers, knockdown timekeepers, announcers and fighters. The Boxing Authority maintains records on over 10,000 amateur and professional fighter and toughman contenders.”
