Boxers' backs can be billboards

By The Associated Press

03.09.02

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LAS VEGAS — Boxers will continue to be allowed to sell the space on their backs in Nevada.

A judge ruled that Nevada boxing authorities would be violating the right to free speech by not allowing temporary ads on a boxer's back during a bout.

The preliminary injunction issued by District Judge Valorie Vega came in response to a suit by online casino GoldenPalace.com to allow boxers to carry the company's Web site address on their backs.

The Nevada Athletic Commission banned the ads in January, but GoldenPalace.com went to court and obtained a temporary restraining order that allowed super bantamweight boxer Bones Adams to wear the tattoo ad in his Feb. 23 fight against Paulie Ayala.

The latest court order issued March 6 extends the original order and will become permanent unless appealed by the Nevada commission.

Middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins was the first to wear an ad Sept. 29 during his title unification bout against Felix Trinidad in New York.

Nevada boxing officials said when they banned the practice that judges could be distracted by the ads and that the ads could smear and get in a fighter's eyes.

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