As boxing slowly inches its way back towards a normal schedule, the sanctioning bodies have also taken the necessary steps to ensure a healthy return.
More than two months after having suspended operations due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) is now back in business. The Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body has has rolled out its COVID-19 protocol for when the time comes to once again stage title fights.
The 12-page policy—of which a copy has been obtained by BoxingScene.com—includes procedures either created organically or adopted from existing protocols within the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) among other governing bodies. Its protocol goes into effect immediately, although its involvement won’t come until a WBO title is at stake.
For now, the first such event will come July 2, when Jamel Herring (21-2, 10KOs) defends his WBO 130-pound crown live on ESPN from the MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom. The bout has yet to be formally announced, although the likely challenger will be Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19KOs).
That card, along with all others currently scheduled to appear on Top Rank’s summer series on ESPN will follow NSAC procedures, with the WBO’s policy to serve as a supplemental protocol. The same will apply for any WBO-sanctioned bout under a commission with sufficient COVID-medical policies already in place.
The WBO policy will serve as the primary protocol in the absence of one with a commission overseeing a particular boxing event in the foreseeable future. Doing so will ensure that all boxers involved in sanctioned title fights are sufficiently tested for COVID-19. Its policy also emphasizes the importance of social distancing and that the “current consensus of best practices is that only those essential, critical, and indispensable personnel for the staging and production of the event be allowed inside the venue and its premises.
“All social distancing guidelines and safety protocols shall be enforced at all times. All authorized personnel in attendance shall be medically cleared and tested negative for Covid-19 in order to participate in the event.”
For closed-doors events, the following are deemed essential personnel for WBO-sanctioned title fights—providing that all test negative for COVID-19:
· Production personnel [T.V. staff, general operations, security personnel, and related therewith]
· Promotional personnel [Event promoter and staff]
· Local boxing commission representatives and inspectors, officials (judges & referee), timekeeper, etc.
· Medical personnel including the Licensed ringside physician, EMT’s, and related therewith
· Specialized medical personnel [Exclusive for administering Covid-19 protocol and procedures as per the local host commission in accordance with local and government regulations]
· Participant Boxers and limited team personnel [Boxer participant and no more than two (2) cornermen, and not more than one manager]
· WBO Supervisor representative
· Doping control officers
· Subject to local commission authorization, limited press and media personnel
Fight week events will remain limited to such essential personnel who have submitted to a health screening after completing a pre-event screening questionnaire confirming full health over a minimum of the preceding 14-day period, along with COVID test producing a negative result.
One interesting stipulation is the preferred method of testing adopted by WBO, along with exceptions it will and will not grant.
“Nasopharyngeal or Nasal swab sampling followed by testing for the specific presence of COVID-19 RNA is the most common test for COVID-19, and is recommended by the CDC as a diagnostic test for an active case of COVID-19,” reads the protocol. “The tester performs sampling by inserting a Q-tip like swab through the nose, pushing it back to contact the rear of the subject’s throat, then rotating it to collect any viral specimens that are present area. After sampling, swabs are placed in tubes for preservation and shipped promptly to the lab for viral RNA testing using an RT-PCR method.
“Rapid results COVID-19 screening tests, such as the Abbott ID-NOW COVID-19 screening test can provide results at the site of sampling in as little as 5 minutes. This test has been approved by the CDC, but it not available at all locations. Other rapid turnaround tests are currently available, and these may be acceptable for use upon approval by the commission and local authorities.”
For now, the WBO has adopted the same zero-tolerance policy currently existent in NSAC protocol. Simply put, a positive test disqualifies you from site entry and fight night.
It was a harsh lesson dealt to Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5KOs), who was forced off of Top Rank’s inaugural post-pandemic show on June 9 in Las Vegas after producing a positive COVID test despite being asymptomatic. The 2016 U.S. Olympian and current unbeaten 130-pound contender was subsequently able to prove that it was a false positive, though at a point where it was far too late for her to proceed with her scheduled clash versus Nigeria’s Helen Joseph.
Mayer’s test in Nevada came via oral swab, whereas as a nasal swab test taken in Houston—where she spent training camp for the events—produced an antibody test revealing she was infected earlier this year, thus her immune system still shedding the virus. The assigned physician ultimately granted her a clean bill of health.
A medical professional would have to do the same under WBO policy which notes that “science does not conclusively support the use of antibody testing to clear someone from the potential of future infection because it has not determined if or how long a recovered person could be immune.”
The 12-page policy also outlines details for when boxing events can once again include spectators.
“Social distancing signs and markers shall be established within the venue designated areas and premises. Spaces shall be arranged inside the venue and premises in compliance with the social distancing protocol. Spectator seating shall be arranged with a distancing of no less than six feet from each other.
“We suggest the following as an example: a fan seated at Row 1 Seat A, Seat B (Middle) shall be empty and Seat C Occupied, Seat D (Middle) shall be empty, Seat E Occupied, etc. There shall be one full row per section (front and back) from the fan seated row. (i.e., Between Row 1-3).”
The WBO COVID protocol has been in the works ever since March 24, when the group officially withdrew sanctioning for any title fights scheduled through mid-June. It became a moot point, as boxing as a whole shut down on March 14, with only a small handful of shows taking place prior to the June 9 premiere of Top Rank’s Vegas summer series.
Upon its full return to the sport, the WBO also cautions—as told BoxingScene.com—that its sanction “will always be subject to compliance of all parties of their local commission and/or government protocols and WBO COVID protocols.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
