AUSTIN -Ben Jackson, a Dallas businessman, was found guilty Wednesday of
promoting combative sport events without the appropriate license. Following
the jury's guilty verdict County Criminal Court
Judge Elizabeth Frizzell sentenced Jackson to 120 days in jail and a $300
fine. Jackson's jail time was suspended and he was placed on probation for
a period of one year.
Unlicensed combative sport events have spread across the state and the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is actively uncovering and
investigating the occurrences. Illegal fights are dangerous for the boxers
and mixed martial art (MMA) fighters participating in the event; they
jeopardize the health and safety of the contestants by pairing fighters of
unequal weights and skill levels resulting in dangerously mismatched bouts.
These illegal events also endanger the fighters safety because no physicians
are on-site, no ambulance with EMS personnel is at the venue and no
evacuation plan has been established should a severe injury occur.
Prior to 2005 elimination tournaments, a/k/a, Toughman contests, were
occurring throughout Texas, and endangering the lives of the participants.
Senator Eddie Lucio Jr., author of the Texas Senate Bill 796, which
outlawed the tournaments, states, "I authored legislation to make certain
that when combative sports take place all necessary safety measures are in
effect, including a registration period, medical staff, and insurance. I
made a promise to the families of those that died or were injured in
"Toughman" competitions that irresponsible
promoters would no longer profit at the expense of Texans being injured or
killed for cheap entertainment."
Licensed promoters are required to conform to the health, safety and
practice requirements in the Combative Sports Law. TDLR's trained staff is
available to assist people wishing to promote combative sports events
in understanding and complying with the Law.
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