APEX N.C.- A shake-up in the oversight of boxing in North Carolina is taking a toll on the boxing community. 

Primary responsibility for the Boxing Advisory Commission moved from Alcohol Law-Enforcement Agents (ALE)  within the Department of Public Safety to a new boxing commission which was transferred to the Department of Commerce at the beginning of this month. However, the commission is currently not fully functioning on its own.

Kickboxing promoter, Don Rodger, was supposed to hold a event in Durham Friday and received a permit to do so this summer. 　 

"They approved all of this stuff up until September 30th," he says. " We were warned a little bit about two weeks ago saying that there's going to be some changes. We had no idea of the impact of the changes."

Rodger received an email from the Department of Commerce on October 2. His understanding was that they were not able to approve the bout on October 11 or provide officials for the event as the department cannot act on behalf of the commission. 

"That was it. We were pretty much stuck," Rodger says. 

Rodger says he's not certain exactly how much money he has lost from canceling, but says he spends $15,000- $20,000 to hold a boxing event. 

"As a promoter, when you are losing this kind of money, it's a big hit," he says. " And then at this point in time, we can't even re-schedule our event because there is nowhere to take the permits. "

He looks forward to holding more events in North Carolina, but admits the transition has been frustrating. 

"The people we work with in the North Carolina Boxing Association were good people. They were just working with some laws that we believe were antiquated. We are hoping this whole shake-up will bring some change for the entire sport, for all combat sports in the state," Rodger says."

We reached out to the Department of Public Safety and received the following statement:

"The Legislature passed HB 99 in August moving the Boxing Commission to the Department of Commerce effective October 1. Governor Cooper signed the bill into law shortly thereafter. Prior to the effective date, Alcohol Law Enforcement was continuing to carry out its statutory duties to include permitting. The Governor has made two of his appointments to the new commission, while the Legislature has not completed its appointments. Until a commission is in place and a Memorandum of Agreement can be completed, the transition of the Boxing Commission cannot be fully implemented. ALE, which is now part of the Department of Public Safety, will continue working with Commerce on the commission’s transition."

We also received a statement from the Department of Commerce:

"The Legislature passed HB 99 in August moving the regulation of boxing from ALE to a new Boxing Commission, effective October 1. This new Boxing Commission was transferred to the Department of Commerce but the law makes clear Commerce has no oversight role over the new Commission and its regulation of the sport. Governor Cooper signed the bill into law shortly thereafter. Prior to the effective date, Alcohol Law Enforcement was continuing to carry out its statutory duties to include permitting. The Governor has made two of his appointments to the new commission, while the Legislature has not completed its appointments. Until a commission is in place and a Memorandum of Agreement can be completed, the transition of the Boxing Commission cannot be fully implemented. ALE, which is now part of the Department of Public Safety, will continue working with Commerce on the commission’s transition."

We also received a statement from  Speaker of the House's spokesman:

"The Department of Commerce, with a division specifically dedicated to sports development, can provide boxing commissioners the flexibility to promote and regulate events in a way that benefits the state and local economies without compromising public safety.  As an entity focused on economic development, including sports, the Department of Commerce is a better fit for that role. We understand there were some initial administrative problems during the transition, which is not uncommon in commission transfers, but that now the Department of Public Safety is working to smooth over any issues.  Last week the House approved the reappointment of two current boxing commission members in-part to assist the administration with a smooth transition."