Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Announces New California State Athletic Commission

Five appointments to the California State Athletic Commission that oversee professional boxing and MMA were announced on Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It now establishes a quorum for the first time in more than five months.

Those named to the Commission are Dr. Christopher Giza of Culver City, June Collison of Etiwanda, CEO of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Rialto, Calif., Timothy Noonan of Beverly Hills, Peter Lopez of Encino, and Mario Rodriguez of San Clemente.

Giza and Collison both served on the Commission beginning in 2005.

Giza is an assistant professor at UCLA. He is a pediatric neurologist in UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital.

Collison is a former Olympic sprinter and ran the 400-meter race in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She has 18 years experience in health care management.

Noonan is an insurance expert who currently serves as the CEO for Lockton Insurance Brokers Inc.

Lopez is an attorney who specializes in entertainment law. He is a partner Kleinberg, Lopez, Lange, Cuddy, Edel, and Klein.

Rodriguez serves as CEO for the marketing firm Jonathan Grey and Associates. He is also a former peace officer.

The five appointees now await approval from the state Senate.

A new set of rules has been established in California a state that has more boxing cards than any other in the country. It also has more boxing gyms and professional boxers than other states.

One new edict is payment of boxing trainers. From now on boxing trainers will be asked if they want the Commission make a separate check for trainers or leave it to the discretion of the boxers.

“Once they say it’s Ok to leave it up to the boxer to give them their cut, it’s out of our hands,” said Garcia, the Executive Officer for the CSAC.

Steroid testing has now been initiated before all professional boxing and MMA contests in California. Testing began on March 2007.

The next Commission meeting is scheduled for April 24, 2007 in the Department of Consumer Affairs located on the first floor at 1625 N. Market St. in Sacramento.