The Arizona Horse Speaks About J.C. Chavez and Kostya Tzyu
By Katherine Dunn
June 3, 2000

The recent hullabaloo regarding the move of the proposed Kostya Tzyu vs Julio Cesar Chavez match to Arizona has been a bit muddled in some sectors and left us wondering exactly what was going on. The licensing of a given fighter is a separate question from the sanctioning of a particular match. We decided to ask the Horse in this case, John Montano, the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission. Mr. Montano agreed to speak to us by phone on Saturday, June 3, from his home. The questions are simple and so are the answers. With these basic facts established, the debate can continue.

CBZ--Is it true that the Arizona Commission has licensed Julio Cesar Chavez?

JM--Correct

CBZ--And has the AZ comm voted to allow the Chavez-Kostya Tzyu match?

JM--That didn't come before the commission yet

CBZ--So that has not yet been decided.

JM--No. It hasn't come before the Commission. But our only concern was to see that Chavez was fit to fight. Medically sound. And we determined that he was.

CBZ--And do I understand correctly that Chavez was required to take special medical examinations?

JM--He did take them, and he brought his MRI. We had a neurological evaluation on him, and read his MRI, which read better than normal. We gave him a complete physical and he's in great shape.

CBZ--So there was no reason for the state of Arizona to refuse to license Chavez?

JM--No. He is licensed.

CBZ--So what happens now? The promoter will present the Commission with a proposed match?

JM--Yes. They'll request a sanction for the fight.

CBZ--But that has not happened yet?

JM--Not yet.

CBZ--Do you have any hunch about whether Arizona will sanction the Chavez-Kostya Tzyu fight?

JM--That will be up to the Commission, and they'll have to vote as a whole.

CBZ--I understand that Senator McCain has written a letter of concern about this topic.

JM--Of course. That's what makes him a great Senator. Because he does care about the fighters and he does care about the state of boxing, not only in Arizona but all over the country.

CBZ--When do you expect the promoter to ask the Commission for approval?

JM--That would be up to the promoter but I would expect it to happen within the next couple of weeks.

CBZ--Do you have an opinion about whether Chavez ought to be allowed to fight Kostya Tzyu?

JM--All I do is act upon the facts presented to me. I look at the facts and make a determination. And the facts dictated that he was physically fit to fight. I don't look at this as approving a world title fight. We don't condone or admonish sanctioning organizations for their rankings. I just look at the fight as a main event and go accordingly. If they want to bestow a title on him or give him a ranking, that's their business.

CBZ--So considering that Chavez has passed his medicals with flying colors you see no reason why this fight should not take place?

JM--Unless we get conflicting information in the next few weeks.