Thomas Hoover has replaced Melvina Lathan as chairperson of the New York State Athletic Commission, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Hoover, who will turn 74 later this month, is a former professional basketball player, having played in the NBA for the New York Knicks and the St. Louis Hawks from 1963 to 1967 as well as for the Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Minnesota Pipers and New York Nets in the now-defunct ABA.
Lathan’s seven years at the helm have not been without controversies. Lathan, a former boxing judge who worked dozens of world title bouts and is known as a supporter of legalizing mixed martial arts in New York, was in charge when heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov suffered a serious brain injury as a result of a fight at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 2, 2013.
