Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 08/06) - A world championship boxing match slated to take place in Yellowknife this May will be on the ropes unless city council fast-tracks a bylaw allowing it to go ahead.

Jelena Mrdjenovich, the women's super-featherweight world boxing champion, is slated to fight in the main event at a boxing match in May. The event will require approval from city council. - photo courtesy of KO Boxing Promotions

The main event, titled "Battle on the Barrens," features the world's super-featherweight women's champion from Hay River, Jelena Mrdjenovich, who will defend her title against a yet unnamed challenger at the Multiplex, May 20.

Unless council passes a bylaw to establish an athletic commission in the city, however, the fight may be illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada, which prohibits prize fights unless a territorial or municipal-approved athletic board is present to watch over it.

Time is short, because bylaws typically take a couple of months to work themselves through City Hall and experienced people who would make up the commission - ringside doctors and referees - need to be hired from down south.

Garry Hubert, the Yellowknife promoter who is organizing the fight, told council that postponing the event is not an option. Coun. Wendy Bisaro asked if it was possible to delay the event until the fall.

"(Jelena) only has so many days to defend her title," said Hubert.

"She could lose it before the fall, and a fight here after that might not be as marketable."

Hubert said he is in discussions with sports broadcaster TSN and CBC Sports about televising the fight. It will cost approximately $150,000 to stage the fight in Yellowknife, said Hubert.

Any costs incurred by the city - including a $350 membership fee to the Canadian Boxing Federation - would be compensated, he said.

Most councillors were in support of setting up an athletics commission, but some were not impressed.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly questioned whether it was wise to have a city ambulance pulled away from potential emergencies while on standby at the Multiplex in case a fighter is injured.

He said it would be best for the territorial government to set up an athletics commission, which in all likelihood would be created to host this one and only event.

Coun. Dave McCann said he didn't like the idea of having staff time eaten up to get the commission up and running.

"How about a regular summertime market?" McCann asked.

"That's an event I can think of that would be worth significant staff resources."

Coun. Doug Witty suggested Yellowknife is only offered so many opportunities to get its name on the map.

"Yellowknife, for whatever reason, has got some real national exposure," said Witty.

"We should take advantage of it."