A bill that would regulate kickboxing and other combat sports in Wisconsin will receive a hearing, according to the Assembly committee chairman.

State Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), chairman of the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations, said he will hold a hearing for the bipartisan bill in the fall, perhaps sooner.

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), state Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) and state Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), was introduced following the death of Dennis Munson Jr., who collapsed after his amateur debut in an unregulated kickboxing bout at the Eagles Club in Milwaukee in March 2014.

In a separate development, a state panel has declined to consider a complaint against Carlos Feliciano, the ringside doctor who worked the Munson fight, saying it does not have power to investigate because it was an unregulated event.

Munson, 24, died at the hospital hours after the fight from what the Milwaukee County medical examiner ruled were complications from head trauma.

The push to change state law came after a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation into unregulated combat sports uncovered gaps in safety at such fights. Officials in charge of Munsons three-round fight failed to stop the match despite what a dozen independent experts who reviewed a video of the match said were obvious signs of distress in Munson.

Wisconsin regulates boxing and mixed martial arts, which combines various disciplines including kickboxing, but does not regulate kickboxing as a stand alone sport.

In its original form, the bill would have cost a projected $360,000 a year to oversee the fights. An amended version of the bill regulates only matches where blows to the head are allowed, dropping the cost to $55,000 a year, according to a new estimate.

Swearingen said he has not decided if he will support the bill, but said the changes from Kleefisch are welcome.

Our job is to make bills better and the bill is much better than it was, Swearingen said.

Brandy Gee, Munsons sister, said she wants to see the bill, which was proposed in March, move faster but she is grateful a hearing will be held.

This is something that really needs to happen soon so we dont have the same thing happen to someone else, Gee said.

Video revealed problems

Video of the bout shows Feliciano looking at his cellphone at key moments during the fight; the corner coach, Scott Cushman, propping up Munson between rounds and slapping him after the fight, just before he collapsed; and referee Al Wichgers failing to evaluate Munson as his condition deteriorated.

Munson crumpled to the mat after the final bell, but medical treatment was delayed amid what records show were questions over his care and hang-ups exiting the 1920s-era building.

Paramedics from Curtis Ambulance, the private service hired to work the fight, wanted to give Munson oxygen but Feliciano said no and told them to prop him up, according to Curtis records.

When Munson collapsed, the Curtis crew didnt immediately call for a Milwaukee Fire Department ambulance, something required under the citys contract with Curtis, according to county and city EMS officials. Instead, another Curtis unit was called. The Fire Department unit was called later, after Munson had become unconscious.

At the direction of Feliciano, Curtis paramedics waved off the fire crew and took Munson to Aurora Sinai Medical Center, records show. Officials said he could have been taken to Froedtert Hospital, the areas Level One trauma center. An official from Curtis said his paramedics never saw the Fire Department ambulance and Munson was taken to the correct hospital given the circumstances.

The state reprimanded Curtis for not filing a special event plan but said Curtis care of Munson was appropriate.

Munsons sister filed a complaint against Feliciano with the state. Feliciano has a general medical license and a ringside physician license.

In response to the investigation, Felicianos attorney wrote that the doctor denied any allegation he acted inappropriately under the circumstances.

The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board found it could not investigate Felicianos actions because he was working at an unsanctioned fight.

Gee said she will appeal the boards decision.

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