Courtesy of family of Nathan Valencia
Nathan Valencia and his girlfriend, Lacey Foster, are shown in this undated photo. Valencia, 20, died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Nov. 23, days after participating in a charity boxing match sponsored by a UNLV fraternity.
Published Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 | 11:42 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 | 2:46 p.m.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is opening an investigation into a fraternity charity boxing event a week after a UNLV student who participated in the event died from blunt force head trauma, the agency announced today.
Nathan Valencia, 20, died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Nov. 23, days after participating in the event dubbed Fraternity Fight Night. The event was hosted by the Kappa Sigma fraternity Nov. 19 at the Sahara Event Center, and Valencia participated as a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Valencia’s death was ruled a homicide by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
“The Nevada State Athletic Commission takes this tragedy seriously,” Chairman Stephen Cloobeck said at a virtual news conference today. “Our hearts go out to Valencia’s family and loved ones.”
“With regard to our investigation, we will look at every aspect of this event,” he said.
Cloobeck said the commission was unsure if the event was properly permitted and that it should have been a business licensing issue at the county level.
The commission is also unsure if the referee was licensed or if proper matches were made between participants or if any fighters were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Cloobeck said the event was not sanctioned by the commission, but paramedics should have been on hand. “We don’t know if they were, but we will find out," he said.
“If any wrongdoing is found, the enforcement of those actions will be handled pursuant to state laws, and of course, what happened in the county,” Cloobeck said, adding that the commission has not viewed video from the event.
The Richard Harris Law Firm issued a statement today on behalf of the family saying they welcomed the investigation and calling into question the credentials and conduct of the referee.
"We have confirmed from multiple sources that there were no paramedics or medical personnel of any kind at this event. We have also confirmed that participants in years past were knocked unconscious and so injured they required hospital attention," the statement said.
"We will hold those responsible for Nathan's death accountable and ensure that this never happens to another son, daughter or member of this community," the statement said.
Metro Police said Monday it had investigated the licensing of the event, and that “there is no information that there is any criminality on part of the venue,” despite the coroner ruling Valencia’s death a homicide. Police added any enforcement action for the promoter or participants in the event should come from the athletic commission.
In a statement today, UNLV said it would "cooperate with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and is committing all available resources to actively review the incident. Because the review is ongoing, we have no additional information to share at this time."
In a letter to students last week, university President Keith Whitfield said, “It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness I share that a member of the UNLV family is no longer with us. We are shocked and heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own.”
“Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. I am sure words cannot describe their feeling of grief and emptiness,” Whitfield said. “They are in our thought during this very difficult time. The Rebel community shares their loss.”
The commission’s investigation will also look at any involvement from the university. “The UNLV president, the chancellor of those universities, and, of course, the board of regents, they all have some explaining to do,” Cloobeck said.
A GoFundMe was started by Valencia’s girlfriend, Lacey Foster, to cover medical and funeral expenses, and had raised nearly $57,000 dollars as of Tuesday morning.
A vigil was held Saturday at the UNLV Alumni Amphitheatre, and funeral arrangements have not yet been made public.
