Boxers May Soon Receive Free Medicals in Las Vegas

By Lem Satterfield

By as early as May, boxers who compete in Nevada may be able to receive free, pre-fight medical workups in accordance with a proposed agreement with the Las Vegas-based, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Nevada State Athletic Commission director, Keith Kizer, told BoxingScene.com.

In October of 2010, the NSAC entered into negotiations with the Lou Ruvo Center in order to conduct free neurological testing for fighters, this, as part of the implementation of an overall study designed to determine what the boxing does to fighters' brains and to develop methods for evaluating fighters.

"What they're trying to do with the Ruvo Center is that they've got grant money to do a three-year study of these fighters -- both MMA and boxers -- where it has to be voluntary," said Kizer.

"But if the fighter agrees, they'll come in there once a year for three years, and they will get a full MRI scan and they will also do some neurological testing," said Kizer. "And in return, that fighter will get his licensing medicals done for free. Any scan work he needs, his physical, his blood work, his eye exam and all of that will be for free as kind of an incentive and a reward for participating in the study."

Kizer said that the Ruvo Center partnership could be announced as early as the week ending May 7, the date on which eight-division king Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) defends his WBO welterweight belt against Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs).

"I think that they're planning to do a press conference the week of the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight as they hope that the eyes of the world will be turned toward Las Vegas for that week," said Kizer. "That's what they're trying to set up. They haven't finalized it yet, but my understanding is that they're very, very close to getting it done."

The project was born out a program which was begun by the Lou Ruvo Center in 2009 in conjuction with the Cleveland Clinic, one of the world's most advanced venues for dealing with brain damage, intended to create a highly specialized operation toward advancing research for early detection, prevention and treatment of neurological diseases, cognitive problems and other disorders in the brain.

"I think that they've secured all of the funding that they need, and now, they're just working out the logistics of it. But I think that could be all set up within the next month and a half or so, if not sooner," said Kizer. "It has nothing to do with us [NSAC] per se. We helped them to get it done," said Kizer. "But at the end of the day, it's up to the fighters whether or not they want to participate in the study and it's going to be their private medical records and information. We don't tell them where to do, as long as they go to a licensed individual."