Secret Victoria Police intelligence used to strip boxing promoter Brian Amatruda of license

A secret Victoria Police intelligence dossier has prompted the boxing regulator to strip veteran promoter Brian Amatruda of his license, leading to the cancellation of two title fights this weekend.

Brian Amatruda (second from right) with, Khalid Baker, Mick Gatto and John Khoury at the George Kambosis Jr vs. Devin Haney world title fight. Picture: Ian Currie

A secretive decision by the government boxing regulator to strip veteran promoter Brian Amatruda of his license has seen two title fights for this weekend cancelled, and could lead to the closure of The Melbourne Pavilion fight venue.

The state government regulator, the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board, took the extraordinary move of cancelling Mr Amatruda’s promoters license based on a secret, untested and unverified report from Victoria Police.

At the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Monday, Mr Amatruda’s barrister, David Grace KC, said Victoria Police had been opposed Mr Amatruda’s involvement in the boxing industry for more than a decade.

Neither Mr Amatruda nor his lawyers have been allowed to see the Victoria Police report, but Mr Grace said there did not seem to be any new information in it since the board had previously renewed his license following an inquiry in 2022.

Mr Amatruda was forced to postpone a bout at the Melbourne Pavilion this weekend following the VCAT hearing on Monday. Photo: Supplied

The tribunal has so far granted Mr Amatruda two stays of the board’s decision, but uncertainty surrounding the ongoing status of his license forced him to postpone a fight night featuring two national title fights scheduled for this weekend, including a headline fight between Super Cruiserweights Dane Alchin and Heath Graham.

The tribunal also heard Mr Amatruda was in negotiations with a live streaming company to broadcast upcoming fights, and that negotiations had been put on hold.

And without Mr Amatruda’s experience organising fight nights, Melbourne’s premier fight venue, The Melbourne Pavilion in Footscray, might be forced to close.

Mr Amatruda is a wealthy property developer, and Mr Grace said he was not reliant on revenue from the sport, but could lose upwards of $1m if he had to cancel the fights he had planned this year.

Brian Amatruda, 67, a prominent boxing promoter and property developer pictured alongside Australian boxing legend Anthony Mundine. Photo: Supplied

In an affidavit, Mr Amatruda said he was involved in boxing for the love of the sport.

“I’m the only promoter in Australia that doesn’t do it for the money,” the affidavit said.

“I build beautiful houses, that’s what I do.”

Mr Amatruda, who has a minor criminal record Mr Grace described as “ancient history”, told the Herald Sun the board’s decision was unfair.

“If I know a politician, it doesn’t make me political. If I know a priest, it doesn’t make me religious. If I deal with people who have a chequered past, it doesn’t make me a criminal,” he said.

In 2010 Mr Amatruda resigned from his role as a bail justice role after questions were raised in the media about his “close association” with Fedele ‘Freddy the Bear’ D’Amico

He said the board had allowed notorious criminals to work in the industry for years, but seemed to be “persecuting” him.

In one of a string of character references from top boxing organisers, Australian Amateur Boxing League chairman Adrian Lovell said Mr Amatruda was an “outstanding contributor to the sporting community”.

“Across Australia, Brian has been a reliable and passionate advocate for sport, contributing to events and supporting athletes at all levels.

“His impact on Australian boxing and sport as a whole cannot be overstated, in a sport that often faces harsh criticism, we need more people like Brian.”

World Boxing Council governor Frank Hadley, in another character reference, said Mr Amatruda was “an asset to the sport of professional boxing”.

Mr Amatruda’s legal challenge to the board’s decision continues.

Originally published as Secret Victoria Police intelligence used to strip boxing promoter Brian Amatruda of license