Draft:Casey C. Sears
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Casey C. Sears
[edit]Casey C. Sears is an American combat sports regulatory administrator who serves as Chairman of the Alabama Athletic Commission. Sears authored Alabama’s first combat sports regulatory rules and supervised Deontay Wilder’s first professional boxing match in 2011, as well as all four World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title defenses held in Alabama.[1]
Career
[edit]Establishment of Alabama regulation
[edit]Before 2009, Alabama did not regulate professional boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2009, the Alabama Legislature passed Act 2009-622 creating the Alabama Boxing Commission and giving the state authority over professional boxing.[2] Sears was appointed as one of the first commissioners and chaired the Rules and Regulations Committee, where he authored the state’s first combat sports regulations.[3]
In 2010, ESPN reported that Alabama was “moving closer to sanctioned MMA,” citing the regulatory work that made it possible.[4] The Shelby County Reporter described the implementation of Alabama’s rules as one of the fastest adoptions of combat sports regulation in the United States.[5]
Deontay Wilder fights
[edit]On January 13, 2011, local media reported that Alabama’s first sanctioned professional boxing event would feature Tuscaloosa heavyweight Deontay Wilder.[6] Sears supervised that event as the assigned regulatory supervisor.
After Wilder became WBC heavyweight champion, ESPN reported that he would defend the title in Birmingham — the first heavyweight world title fight ever held in Alabama.[7]
Sears supervised **all four** WBC heavyweight title defenses held in Alabama:
1. **June 13, 2015 — Wilder vs. Eric Molina** (Bartow Arena, Showtime)[8] 2. **September 26, 2015 — Wilder vs. Johann Duhaupas** (Legacy Arena, NBC primetime)[9] 3. **July 16, 2016 — Wilder vs. Chris Arreola** (Legacy Arena, FOX/Showtime)[10] 4. **February 25, 2017 — Wilder vs. Gerald Washington** (Legacy Arena, FOX)[11]
No other U.S. state hosted **four heavyweight title defenses in that period.**
Chairmanship
[edit]The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts lists Sears as Chairman of the AAC for the 2019–2023 period.[12]
In 2023, the AAC formally stated it would not sanction slap-fighting in the state, saying “this is not a sport.”[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "State boxing commission begins to take form". The Tuscaloosa News. July 21, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "House votes to establish state boxing commission". The Tuscaloosa News. February 26, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Commission Contacts". Association of Boxing Commissions. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama nudges closer to sanctioned MMA". ESPN. February 16, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Locked out of the cage: MMA regulations taking shape in Alabama". Shelby County Reporter. September 6, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "State's first sanctioned pro fight to feature Wilder". The Tuscaloosa News. January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Tuscaloosa native Deontay Wilder to make first title defense in Alabama". ESPN. May 14, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Deontay Wilder retains WBC title, stops Molina". ESPN. June 13, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "NBC announces primetime heavyweight title fight". NBC Sports. September 23, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Deontay Wilder retains title despite broken hand". ESPN. July 16, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Deontay Wilder stops Gerald Washington in 5th". ESPN. February 25, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama Athletic Commission — Examination Report (2019–2023)" (PDF). State of Alabama — Examiners of Public Accounts. 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ "Alabama makes slap fight stance clear: 'This is not a sport'". Bloody Elbow. March 10, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2025.