Corruption in the IBF, a lesson learned..

Federal prosecutors filed charges in 1999 against the IBF and requested a full in depth investigation in an attempt to uncover them as a corrupt boxing organization.
The civil racketeering lawsuit against the governing body came nearly three weeks after prosecutors indicted IBF president Robert Lee Sr on criminal bribery charges. Lee and others in the IBF were indicted on charges they solicited $338,000 in bribes over the past 13 years to fix IBF rankings. They pleaded innocent, and their trial continued into 2000..
IBF ratings committee chairman Doug Beavers knew for a long time how flagrantly they had flaunted with the law..

When the FBI called at Beavers house asking if he could talk to them about bribery within the boxing organisation (The IBF) he invited them into his home with the line "What took you so long?"  Beavers agreed to cooperate with the Feds, on the condition that he would escape prosecution..   Beavers agreed to wear a wire and engage in a close encounter stakeout at a regular meeting.. Federal investigators would film the meeting through a keyhole of an adjacent hotel room. Beavers explained to the FBI, it worked like this..   If promoter 'A' wished to have their fighter shoved up the rankings, I would ensure that Bob Lee gave the go ahead and named a Price..   we'd talk in code, with various major players having pseudonyms..   Fuzzy Wuzzy was a code name for a well publicised Promoter, The Fat man was another (Cedric Kushner) the money that changed hands was known as 'Ginseng' , 'Christmas Turkey'  or 'Christmas Cheer.'  It wasn't a case of how good or accomplished a fighter was to get a ranking with the IBF, it was how connected you were or how much you were willing to pay..  
The prime example of how ruthless Bob Lee sr was came in 1995. Cedric Kushner had kept the IBF sweet with regular cash payments via Bob Lee, offerings that were rewarded with his heavyweight Axel Shultz being awarded a shot at the title held by  Big George Foreman..  Shultz was largely unknown and it was hugely unlikely that he'd trouble the champion. Shultz went on to outwork George but lost via some scandalous scorecards..   The IBF had ordered many rematches in its history, in fights that weren't nearly as badly officiated as this, yet Bob Lee offered no sympathy to Cedric and Shultz..  Beavers knew it wasn't right and questioned Bob Lee on the matter..  Lee agreed to allow a rematch to take place, on the condition that Cedric payed Lee $100.000..  Beavers thought the amount was scandalous and voiced his opinion..  Lee told Beavers, its $100.000 or nothing..  Kushner was told of the offer and under duress made the $100 Grand payment..  assured that they'd rank Shultz #1 for Foremans title..   however a month later George sent word that he'd never face Shultz again..    Lee never repaid Cedric his money..    Kushner said..   "It was as if I'd just bought an ice cream and returned it because I didn't quite like the flavour..".

Astonishingly IBF president Bob Lee was eventually cleared of bribery charges in court, yet found guilty of tax evasion and money laundering, the 67 year old receiving a 22 month jail sentence and a fine of $25.000..