Meet the man who keeps the fights in line

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Nothing seems out of place in Bob Bennett’s office at Nevada Athletic Commission headquarters. That’s by design.

The papers on his desk are stacked neatly and organized in chronological order for upcoming fight cards the commission is sanctioning. A grease wall calendar lists Bennett’s many appointments. Framed photos line the walls documenting Bennett’s life before he became executive director of the commission seven months ago.

And there’s a folder in a filing cabinet to the right of Bennett’s desk for each of the 27 fight shows the commission has regulated during his tenure. He keeps the score sheets from each fight, not just the headline bouts, and makes notes on the scoring. The scoring process is something in which Bennett, a former boxing judge, has taken great interest.

Bennett changed how fight night works for the three judges. There’s now a prefight briefing to review fighter tendencies and answer last-minute questions, then the group huddles again after the fight to review the scoring. It’s similar to how officials in other professional sports approach the craft.

“Nobody wants to know about the 1,000 fights you judged correctly,” said Bennett, who served in the Marines and as an FBI agent. “It’s about the one you didn’t do right.”

Bennett, a New Yorker with a thick accent, isn’t bashful when talking about his expectations for judges, timekeepers and others behind the scenes.

“If you have somebody who really isn’t living up to the standards of the Nevada Athletic Commission, which is considered the gold standard for boxing and MMA ... they need to know what my concerns are and why I have those concerns,” Bennett said.

Bennett also is quick to deliver compliments and hasn’t been afraid to ask staffers questions. With 57 years of experience, they are the glue that holds the commission together, Bennett says.

He also praises judges for their willingness to accept changes to their job and inspector Alex Ybarra for helping to develop a policy on boxing gloves.

Last May, days before Bennett started the job, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Marcos Maidana had a dispute over the amount of padding in Maidana’s gloves. The fight was at risk of being canceled at the last hour.

So the commission developed a list of acceptable gloves; fighters must deliver their gloves to the commission office three days before a bout for final approval.

“I like to ask people why are they doing it this way,” Bennett said. “If they say, ‘Well, we’ve always done it that way,’ — well, that is not what I am looking for. It’s about asking the right questions of the right people.”

Bennett answered a few of our questions. Here are some highlights:

On the perception the commission favors Mayweather:

“I am very appreciative to what Mr. Mayweather brings to the table as a fighter and brings to the community. But in no way, shape or form is he shown any favoritism or any prejudice or is any bias shown. When we regulate a sport, we don’t have a vested interested in any fighter.”

On a potential megafight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao:

"Really, the only place to have it would be in Las Vegas. Both fighters are hall-of-fame fighters, both have achieved extreme success in Las Vegas, both have helped keep us as the fight capital of the world, and both have had financial success in Las Vegas and the community has benefited. I would be very disappointed if it went any other place than here.”

On performance-enhancing drugs:

Bennett praised promotion companies for helping the commission pay for drug testing. For example, boxing promotion company Top Rank paid for one of its fighters to be tested while he was in Argentina. The collector flew from Las Vegas to South America to administer the test. “(Promoters) won’t even give us a dollar amount,” Bennett said. “They say test whoever you want. We go out and do what you need to do.”

On posting scores after each round:

Some argue the three judges’ scores should be posted in the arena after each round, similar to scoreboards in other sports, so fighters would know what they need to do to win the fight. Bennett thinks that’s a bad idea. “The most critical aspect of the judge is the ability to concentrate,” he said. “Knowing what the other judges’ scores are round by round is a distraction and changes the course of the fight.”

On working out:

Bennett works out at least four times a week and appears to be in great shape. His dedication to fitness dates to his days in the FBI. “It is a survival skill,” he said. “It gives you that added confidence that if you find yourself in a compromising position, you feel confident enough you can do what you need to do to go home. I always played to go home.”

On UFC champ Jon Jones entering drug treatment:

Jones, the UFC lightweight champion, tested positive for the main metabolite of cocaine in a drug test administrated by the commission before Jones’ most recent fight Jan. 4 at the MGM Grand. “We all have different challenges in life. He has the courage of his conviction to address his challenges and admit himself to a rehabilitation center,” Bennett said. “I’m sure he will come out a better person. At least I hope he does.” Jones left rehab after one day.