One month after the sanctioning of MMA in New York was brought to a grinding halt by the state’s Assembly Tourism committee, there’s new hope for fans in the Empire State. Franklin McNeil at the Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Governor David Patterson has suddenly and without notice ousted New York State Athletic Commission chair Ron Scott Stevens. And though it’s obviously still far too early to say, it sounds as though his replacement — current commissioner and sometimes boxing judge Melvina Lathan — could be instrumental in pushing MMA into NYC:
Lathan has a wealth of sports knowledge and doesn’t shy away from tough decisions. And she constantly addresses safety issue.
The decision to name Lathan as NYSAC chairperson is good news for mixed martial arts. New York has yet to sanction America’s fastest growing sport.
Part of the reason has been a lack of support from some of the state’s key sports administrators. Mixed martial arts is sanctioned in New Jersey. Lathan has repeatedly made her support for MMA known.