`Biting' bill approved

Boxing

A Senate bill to let the Nevada Athletic Commission seize all of a boxer's purse for biting opponents or similar behaviour has received final legislative approval.

The measure was sent to Governor Bob Miller, who backed the proposal after Senate and Assembly members agreed on Sunday night to last-minute amendments sending any confiscated money to the state's general fund.

Only two days before, the Assembly had voted to send 40 per cent of the purse to a state domestic violence fund, 40 per cent to a child abuse prevention fund and 20 per cent to the commission.

Legislators were shocked by Mike Tyson's ear-biting attack on Evander Holyfield during the heavyweight championship fight on 28 June. Once they determined they had jurisdiction over the penalties, they endorsed harsh sanctions on boxers who behave in this way.