To Morgan Hawkins.
I’m sorry your experience in my promotion was less than satisfactory.
It’s also unfortunate that you received an injury that required medical attention beyond that provided at the venue.
The travel expenses that you should have received will be sent to you immediately and I apologize for the delay. Everyone, who was to receive a travel allowance for that particular event has already received one.
Your fight with Ira Boyd on paper, had the advantage in your favor taking into consideration by your own admission Ira, is at best average.
You being the wrestler/bjj fighter and training with one of the top competitor/trainers in OK.,Jeff Lindsey had you, on paper, the odds on favorite, if you could put Ira on the ground.
I deferred to the info that I gathered from txmma, from those who had trained with and fought him, that Ira’s ground skills were less than average when putting the match together.
Unfortunately for those who are less than fans of Ira’s antics inside and outside the ring, I can assure that all the allegations regarding Ira’s lack of skill and questionable heart in the ring, that I read prior to having him compete in my show are unfounded.
He will fight anyone that has the fortitude to meet him in the ring at a reasonable weight and the only reason that his opponents seem less than equal to his skill is that those who question his ability, and qualify their owns skills as greater than he, with few exceptions, have not picked up the gauntlet and continue to hide behind the internet.
The disadvantage of relying on takedowns as your only source of offense, opens a fighter like yourself to knees on missed singles and doubles, as well as in the clinch.
I’m sure that if you would have put him on the mat, it might of gone your way and I’m sure as a concession you may be correct.
Ira was able to defend your shot and clinch and used the only techniques that he had at his disposal to dispatch you.
The rules and times limits that I have implemented in my production take the fighter’s safety into consideration first and foremost. 3,2 min rounds, no knees to the face, no heelhooks or twisting kneelocks.
It’s up to the referee to inforce the rules and no one else has the authority to override his decision or lack of enforcement of the rules other than the commissioner of TKO of which I am not.
Rick Blalock was the referee for your match and his experience as a referee is allegedly over 20 yrs. He is the premier referee for TKO.
It’s up to him to enforce and penalize those who break the rules and if he doesn’t than your protest should be addressed to the sanctioning body, tko.
I spoke to the ringside dr and the emts the night of the event and I was under the impression that you were in good hands and that your injuries were superficial and that adequate medcial attention was being administered.
Across the board most promoters are under the assumption that if the medcal personnel at ringside has the situation under control and they themselves are not alarmed, that most promoter’s will leave the situation in thier capable hands.
I rarely leave the venue early before post-fight loadout and with the weather that evening, my staff and I were on the road as soon as we had completed our loadout, which is not an excuse for not receiveing a heads up on your condition but frankly I had no way to contact you directly and once again I was under the assumption that you had recovered from the effects of your fight.
In the future I will try to make it a policy to follow up on competitor’s who do not leave the venue without complete use of their faculties.
I admire the fact that you stepped up and participated in the event and it’s a shame that one loss has soured you on participating in any other events, besides my own because I’m sure your potential hasn’t been recognized in mma and the fans will miss your evolution into a better than average competitor.
Please forward me your mailing add and your contact # and I will be glad to formally apologize for any inconvience or mistreatment you suffered at my event as well sending your travel allowance.
Sincrely,
Saul Soliz/ 713.794.0054/ swsoliz@aol.com
