To many fighters are dying and coming up injured.

In the past year or so their have been more boxing deaths and career threatening injuries then their have been in a long time. With the passing of Leavander Johnson it made me think. I think this should be the last straw and it would probably be time to implement a national commission that would only have a birds eye view on medical clearance. It seems to me a lot of these injuries and deaths can be prevented and caught early prior to the fight by a rigorous check up and complete neuro examination hours before the scheduled bout. Another thing that concerns me is that with the exception of Joe Mesi a lot of these fighters are suffering brain injuries. As we all know fighters drain the water out of their body to make the desired weight. Now when this happens you might be draining the water from your body (prime example Gatti in the Mayweather fight) but you are also draining fluid from the brain as well. Some will argue that they are given about a day give or take to regroup. Well I think this is the problem, just because you fill your body with water it takes an extremely long amount of time for the fluid to resurface around the brain. I believe this is probably the cause for Leavanders death as well as a few others especially in the lower weight divisions. I think it is time for the "powers" in boxing and the state wide commissions open their damn eyes and quit putting boxing in the back of their mind...Shame on the commissions.

Comments (14)

Bombardier

WTF is this mang.. Boxing is a warriors sport, someone will die one way or another, if you want to make the sport like it was in the old days, BRING BACK 15 rounds! There's deaths with 12 rounders too! If you don't wanna risk your life, then DON'T BOX PROFESSIONALLY! There may be a slightly higher risk with 15 rounds, BUT you must take risks in life! They should take the risk and make boxing mainstream again! Just my humble opinion. There's a higher chance of getting killed walking down the street of a boxing gym then there is of dying there! You're right to a point, but it's the unncessary injuries and deaths that are the problem. spinks isn't proposing that the fighters wrap fluffy pillows around their heads before they go in the ring or anything...just sound medical precautions. Think of this way. When a soldier dies from enemy fire, it's upsetting, but people understand (politics surrounding the actual war notwithstanding). But when a soldier dies from friendly fire there are investigations and procedures are put in place to try to prevent it from happening again. Similarly, when a fighter dies because of the corrupt nature of the sport then there's a problem.

20y ago

USA4LIFE

ummm...won't 15 rounds result in more injuries? Yeah isn't that why they decided to cut 15 rounds to 12 rounds tops.

20y ago

Jarlaxle

The first thing that should be done is there should be a weigh in a week before the fight and a night before. I think there should be two weigh ins. That would prevent guys from dropping 10-30 pounds in a week or in some cases a few days. It also would force people to fight closer to their real weight. I’m not saying LJ was weight drained but I can name a few other fighters who passed away under similar circumstance that were. That’s just one idea. Either way its terrible news but with the way Lou DiBella was talking about the situation it seemed like we needed a miracle.

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

I remember someone asking Manny Stewart if boxing would be safer with headgear, he said that no it wouldnt be, that the only reason its used in the amatuers it to prevent cuts, because in the amatuers they fight multiple fights in one day. True dat! Getting hit with headgear still hurts! The diff between ams and pros is the gloves.... FUCK HEADGEAR in the pros, this is a gladiator sport!

20y ago

Famoso_Matador

damn...how come I can see professional boxers wearin head gear 10 yrs from now in fights? I remember someone asking Manny Stewart if boxing would be safer with headgear, he said that no it wouldnt be, that the only reason its used in the amatuers it to prevent cuts, because in the amatuers they fight multiple fights in one day.

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

I think boxing needs better match making... and 1 belt per weight lesser weight classes 15 rounds ect ect...I agree with EVERYTHING you just said! That way it can be like the old days! When they say "THE CHAMPION"

20y ago

Exciterx30

Here is the reason why fights were shortened from 15 to 12 rounds. http://www.antekprizering.com/mancinikimposter.jpeg

20y ago

riz

I think boxing needs better match making... and 1 belt per weight lesser weight classes 15 rounds ect ect... 15 rounds???? the reason they changed it to 12 rounds is cuz a guy died when it went to the 13th, thts y they cahnged it initially

20y ago

spinksjinx

I forgot nomore PPV's, and your right, boxing is really a favortism sport, not every fight is going to be just or fair, but foreal we need to cut these divsions and paper champions since there are too many to count...like you said Maussas a D fighter... The multiple divisions is really confusing, not as much when you get into the higher weights but I mean between middleweight and heavyweight super middleweight and cruiser are to divisions that are forgotten about entirely. Same goes between 100-140 their are a plethora of divisions that are more or less less than a 5 pound difference....That would help but to ensure the safety of the boxers they need to regulate examinations more and go beyond the normal shine a flashlight into your eye and say "ahhh" type crap...Neuro exams before (after weigh in) and after each fight...Such a small demand but isnt enforced.

20y ago

spinksjinx

You have a point to your lesser ordeal like Lightweight/Middleweight/Heavyweight which is fine, sure it wouldnt be really competitive for a guy weighing say 120 compared to a guy at 140 but it would eliminate the need to drain for weight. It sounds good on paper but people would still manipulate the system...Unfortuntaely boxing is a plagued sport and always will be....

20y ago

Manny_P

damn...how come I can see professional boxers wearin head gear 10 yrs from now in fights?

20y ago

Ricomania77

I think boxing needs better match making... and 1 belt per weight lesser weight classes 15 rounds ect ect... ummm...won't 15 rounds result in more injuries?

20y ago

_El_Jefe

I think boxing needs better match making... and 1 belt per weight lesser weight classes 15 rounds ect ect... actually i think that the more weight classes the more even the matches are going to be ex you are not going to have a guy the size of a light-feather figthing a super feather

20y ago