No cage fights have broken out in the state capitol this year over contentious issues, but lawmakers are consideringa billthat would regulate these types of fights.
Mixed martial arts fighting is sometimes done with bare knuckles behind a cage.
RepublicanState Senator Mark Johnston is a sponsor of a bill to bring back a state boxing commission. Johnston testified before the Senate State Affairs Committee. He says unsanctioned fights are already occurring in South Dakota. Johnston says it’s better to regulate the practice to increase safety.
“The promoters who are running around the state of South Dakota with a cage in the back of an 8 by 12 trailer is what causing problems for communities, causing issues for fighters, and quite frankly leading to some of those challenges when it comes to athletes safety,” says Johnston.
Johnston says a state boxing commission formed by lawmakers in 2009 sunset this past year. He says the positions on that commission were never appointed by Governors Rounds or Daugaard.
The Senate State Affairs Committee went on to unanimously pass abillthat forms the commission.
But Governor Dennis Daugaard is expressing vehement opposition to the bill.
Daugaard says cage fighting is not a sport.
“These things cause death. They legitimize and mislabel as sport violence that to call it a sport is absurd and ridiculous,” says Daugaard.
Daugaard says the violence in cage fighting is a sad commentary on our current culture.
Those backing the legislation criticize the Governor for failing for appoint members to the previous commission. The new bill gives the legislature the authority to appoint a majority of the commission members. Daugaard says any commission members may incur liability if fighters are killed or injured.