The Florida State Boxing Commission is aware of a controversial statement made by Seth Petruzelli in a radio interview on Monday, but does not feel the comment indicates wrongdoing by either Petruzelli or EliteXC promoters, according to a commission spokesperson.
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| Petruzelli's comment doesn't indicate wrongdoing, says commission spokesperson. (EliteXC) |
"We have a copy of the comment. We do," Antonacci said. She added that while the commission has a system in place for filing formal complaints, they had yet to receive one about the Slice-Petruzelli fight. However, the preliminary reaction of the commission is that the comment does not indicate foul play.
"After further review of the comments that are in question, we believe that he is referring to the fact that he got paid more to keep the show going," Antonacci said. "Meaning that before the fight, Ken Shamrock was injured and couldn't fight Kimbo Slice. So Seth stepped in and said 'OK, I'll fight him.' And without that, there wouldn't have been a main event that night."
In an interview Monday morning with 104.1 FM in Orlando, Petruzelli appeared to hint that he was paid to take Kimbo Slice toe-to-toe.
"I knew I would do all right with him actually standing up," Petruzelli said on the radio show. "The promoters kinda hinted to me, and they gave me the money to stand and trade with him. They didn't want me to take him down. Let's just put it that way. It was worth my while to stand up and try to punch him."
Slice, previously undefeated in MMA, has been EliteXC's star attraction, but is widely criticized for having no skills besides punching power. During Slice's 14-second loss to Petruzelli on CBS Saturday night, EliteXC vice president and matchmaker Jared Shaw could be seen on camera as Petruzelli repeatedly punched Slice in the head, waving his arms and yelling to the referee that Petruzelli's punches were illegally targeting the back of Kimbo's head. Shaw has since apologized for his cage-side conduct.
Antonacci agreed that it was possible Petruzelli simply thought of himself as a striker and assumed EliteXC promoters chose him as Shamrock's replacement based on the likelihood that he would strike with Slice, as opposed to fighting him on the ground.
"Certainly the promoter would pick two fighters that were best matched," she said. "That's logical."
Antonacci said if a formal complaint -- which can be filed via the commission's website or through a form available from the commission's customer contact center -- were to be filed, it stands a good chance of being investigated.
"If someone does file a formal complaint, we would do a full investigation of all the allegations from whoever complained. It doesn't matter who it is. But at this time, we haven't started an investigation and (we have) no reason to believe any wrongdoing has occurred," she said.
But until that time, the commission doesn't believe there was anything explicitly incriminating about Petruzelli's radio comments.
"We have no reason to believe that there was any wrongdoing that occurred," Antonacci said. "Seth stepped in to fight Kimbo Slice because Ken Shamrock was injured, and therefore, you know, signed a new contract, and was paid based on moving up in the card, being a part of the main event."
