Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 20-Senators Augustine, Adler, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O'Connell, O'Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rawson, Regan, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

March 17, 1997
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Read and Adopted

SUMMARY--Commemorates 100th anniversary of boxing in State of Nevada. (BDR R-1520)

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Commemorating the 100th anniversary of boxing in the State of Nevada.

Whereas, The State of Nevada enjoys a long history of taking risks for suitable gain and legalizing behavior considered "scandalous" in American society; and
Whereas, One hundred years ago, the Senators and Assemblymen of the 18th session of the Nevada Legislature passed and Governor Reinhold Sadler signed Assembly Bill No. 8, an act which allowed the first legal prizefight to occur in this state after California, Texas and other states had turned down the opportunity to permit such a contest; and
Whereas, This bold action was taken by the Nevada Legislature and Governor Sadler in part to attract investors to this state and in part to call attention to the vast resources of the State of Nevada; and
Whereas, The members of the 18th session of the Nevada Legislature passed the act to set forth standards for regulation of a "contest or exhibition with gloves between man and man for a wager or reward"; and
Whereas, The act, having as its primary purpose "to restrict and license glove contests," was adopted in the year 1897; and
Whereas, On March 17, 1897, "Ruby Robert" Fitzsimmons fought "Gentleman Jim" Corbett before a crowd of 6,000 in Carson City in an outdoor arena built especially for the event, with Fitzsimmons knocking out Corbett in the 14th round by a blow to the solar plexus; and
Whereas, March 17, 1997, marks a historic occasion, as Nevadans celebrate the commencement of this centennial year of official prizefighting in the great State of Nevada; and
Whereas, Boxing, the "sweet science," now ranks as one of the leading industries in this state, intertwined with our heritage of grand entertainment; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly Concurring, That residents of the State of Nevada are hereby urged to observe and participate in the celebration of 100 years of boxing throughout the year; and be it further
Resolved, That boxing, which has been gloriously successful beyond the imaginations of its initiators 100 years ago, however modest its part in the economy of this state at the outset, be rightfully honored for its contribution to the economic development of Nevada; and be it further
Resolved, That this year be known as Nevada's Centennial Year of Championship Gloved Competitions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the Nevada Athletic Commission.