Final arguments were completed, Thursday, in a three-month trial that could rock the boxing world with jurors expected to start deciding the International Boxing Federation's fate (IBF) Tuesday in New Jersey.
IBF founder Robert Lee and his son Robert Jnr are charged with taking payoffs from promoters in exchange for manipulating rankings in order to set up title matches.
A final rebuttal from prosecutors is scheduled Friday with US District Judge.
Howard Bissell to give final instructions to the 17-member jury Monday and deliberating to start on Tuesday.
Prosecutors hope to force changes on the IBF and promoters in what could serve as a guideline to overhaul the US dealings of the two other major sanctioning bodies, the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association.
Lee, 66, and Lee Jnr, 38, are accused of extorting $338,000 over 15 years from promoters and managers in exchange for higher IBF rankings, which allowed boxers to move up the rankings and become legitimate title contenders.
Lee Sr faces a maximum 20 years imprisonment on the most serious charges of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and money laundering, with fines of up to $750,000.
Defense Attorney Gerald Krovatin gave an emotional summation Thursday, crying in his closing statement.
"This has never been about bribes but about gratuities," Krovatin said. "In the ratings system, talent outs at the end.
"You’ve heard of a generous Mr. Lee, a man whose generosity and naiveté has gotten where he is today. I must give Mr. Lee to you and I ask you to give him back. I ask you not to find him guilty."
Assistant US Attorney Marc Agnifilo described the IBF in his summation as "a good idea but corrupted by the greed of its founder."
Lee Snr was the only man in charge of the bribes, Agnifilo said.
"There is no doubt whose in charge of the organization when the IBF is looking to make illicit money", he said. "Its Bob Lee Snr. Its always Bob Lee Snr."
The prosecution emphasized that IBF titles have no credibility because the rankings used to decide matchups are tainted.
"Boxing is becoming a dying sport because it has lost the trust of the public," Agnifilo said. "We can no longer have faith in IBF ratings, because once a bribe is paid, you don’t know who is better."
Federal agents began investigating the IBF under the provisions of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO).
Powerful promoters Cedric Kushner, Dino Duva and Bob Arum took the witness stand and could face prosecution in the near future for their testimony. All three promoters admitted making payoffs as a condition of dealing with the IBF.
Arum admitted paying $100,000 to get the IBF to permit George Foreman to defend his heavyweight title against Germany's Axel Schulz.
Now Arum, who is Top Rank is based in Las Vegas, faces the revocation of his license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. California and New Jersey boxing authorities are also investigating testimony.
Jimmy Binns, the WBA attorney, is pushing to have Arum indicted as a racketeer.
Arum, 68, a former federal prosecutor, said he testified knowing he was opening the door to legal trouble because "I felt it was time to do what I could to end the corruption in boxing, to rescue what was for the general community a dying sport,” – (AFP)
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