Don Charles, the trainer of Derek Chisora and Wadi Camacho, recently sat down with me and talked over the issues of fighters pulling out of fights without providing the opposing team with adequate medical statements.
Amongst other things, Charles noted that most of the times boxers pull out of fights, the opposing team and the board/commission are never given adequate evidence that the fighter is really injured.
Of course, the recent example of this would be David Haye who pulled out of three different dates in 2013 (one was supposed to take place in February, 2014) - without providing the opposition (Manuel Charr, Tyson Fury twice) with any medical statement.
Another example was, of course, when Wladimir Klitschko pulled out on Derek Chisora twice - only to subsequently schedule a fight with then WBA heavyweight champ, David Haye.
“It’s happened to us personally – me and Dereck Chisora – where we’ve gone to camp, spent a large amount of money paying sparring partners and mentally preparing ourselves only for that opponent to suddenly pull out with an injury. How come we never can challenge it?
"I have never seen any medical evidence of these injuries from governing bodies, officials, managers or promoters.
“I think all of these things should be made public because it is the public after all that are supporting it publically. Therefore, it is in the public interest.”
It is an interesting topic, as most fighters are either independently managed or promoted with little-to-no requirements given to them by their commission or board.
Charles proposed to me that when signing a fight, both boxers should also sign a petition with the board to ensure if any injures occur without proper medical evidence, the pulling out fighter should cover the costs of the other man's camp (if a rematch is not scheduled).
What are your feelings on this and how would you want it changed?
absolutely
once you sign a contract, you should have to prove that you're unable to fight. otherwise, you fight.
fighters are going to have to start getting insurance for this stuff if it continues to happen unchecked.
david haye would literally schedule a fight and go on a press tour for publicity. he'd have no intention of taking the fight. he was waiting for vitali to get old.
unfortunately, these injuries are easy to fake. you can't make a man fight unless he's got an injury that comes up on an x ray, mri, etc. the ones that don't can be faked. not to mention adam booth cracking haye on the eyebrow with a skillet.
This was the idea of Charles as well. More often than not, it's the B-side fighter who is left behind.
It's pretty strange that in such a big sport as boxing, there's not official commission who can hold the fighters accountable for faking injuries etc. There's always a way to get out.
How about in cases of injury the fighter be examined by an unbiased commission appointed Dr.
Yes, and it doesn't seem like the hardest thing to do.
ever heard of HIPAA?
If both fighters sign an agreement before the fight to have details given to the other camp in case of injury, it would automatically sway this law.
Similarly to how USADA/VADA works. It should be included as part of the contract that medical evidence should be given to the other camp. if this could not be provided the 'injured' fighter should pay for the other guy's camp or part of it.
I think they should most certainly have to provide the other camp with documentation. Guys pull out all the time and it's costing the other side a paycheck. Then all of a sudden the same guy with the injury is in a bigger fight for more money and his "injury" miraculously disappears.
That's why boxing needs to have a worldwide regulatory commission for matters like this.
Also they should have some kind of insurance to cover the costs for the expenses for the healthy fighter who, is unable to perform due to circumstances beyond his control and should be compensated for any losses incurred for preparation of the fight.
But I guess that depends on the language of the contract. These issues should be worked out at the negotiating table.
absolutely
once you sign a contract, you should have to prove that you're unable to fight. otherwise, you fight.
fighters are going to have to start getting insurance for this stuff if it continues to happen unchecked.
david haye would literally schedule a fight and go on a press tour for publicity. he'd have no intention of taking the fight. he was waiting for vitali to get old.
unfortunately, these injuries are easy to fake. you can't make a man fight unless he's got an injury that comes up on an x ray, mri, etc. the ones that don't can be faked. not to mention adam booth cracking haye on the eyebrow with a skillet.
U do know that's illegal rite?
exactly miy thoughts when I read it. doctor's can't disclose that stuff without the patient's consent. where I live anyway...