Cracking read - Kieran Farrell & Donald Mcrae

Great read and as I've said many times over the years, 24 hour rehydration periods are no safer.

 

Donald McRae is my favourite sports journalist by some distance. This article is fantastic as well.

 

I'm sure Kieran use to fight at 8 stone a few years ago, he struggled to make 9 stone 9 and was going to move up to LWW, awful story but good read

 

An excellent article about a really sad story. It's good to see the lad is making a recovery.

I work in sports nutrition and work with a couple of boxers; given the choice of attempting to rehydrate a fighter in 24-30 hours or on the day of the fight, I'd choose a 24 hour rehydration period every time.

Looking at the article, Farrell was 9st 8lbs the day before the fight (I believe the fight was at Lightweight/9st 9lbs). The unfortunate result was that he was dehydrated for a significant period of time - far longer than necessary, which increases the risks involved.

If dehydration is used, a fighter would ideally dip under the weight for a very small period of time so they're only dehydrated for a fraction to try and minimise risk. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Ideally, fighters would fight in a more 'natural' weight class, but until this happens (which could be never), I don't see how 24hour weigh-ins can be a bad thing.

 

He put on 18Lbs in the time from the weigh in to stepping into the ring....what if he was fighting someone who was at a more natural weight?, thats dangerous in itself. A lightweight fighting a light-middle is ****ing ridiculous :-(

 

Brilliant. I'm a little choked up after reading that.

McRae is an excellent journalist.

 

That was a truly moving read.

Rather than reverting to same-day weigh ins, would it not be more sensible to rigourously enforce check-weights and rehydration limits?

 

I think so. The overwhelming amount of troubles regarding brain injuries are linked to weight draining.

What other sport could an athlete starving themselves and not drinking fluids be seen as a part of the game?

 

He told me today that he never would've made weight if it was same day weigh in's.

I've held the opinion for many years that 24 hour weigh in's encourage even more excessive weight cutting than the old way. From a sporting perspective it dilutes weight classes and makes them meaningless and as Icemax had pointed out in some instances the fights simply aren't fair.

Appreciate the response you clearly know what you're talking about, but my point is that it should go back to the old way.

Statistics show that there hasn't been a major upside in terms of deaths and injuries. If anything the most high profile injury has come after the change and was likely down to excessive weight cutting.

 

Another solution. Problem is promoters would kick up a stink when they get big fights cancelled on the day of the bout.

The IBF rule is not enough. That doesn't stop the bout happening, it merely takes the title away. The bigger guy still fights.

Also, as per icemax's point again; Joey Gamache certainly doesn't think you should be able to be in a different weight class on the night regardless of dehydrating the day before.

 

Its an idea I'd support but boxing is such a ****ed up sport I cant see sanctioning bodies cancelling fights because of failed check-weights or exceeding rehydration levels.

Look at the drugs issue, if they're willing to let fights go ahead after someone tests positive I cant see this working :-(

 

Ridiculous, perhaps? You're suggesting fighters should get in the ring at exactly the same weight as they weigh-in, given your LW vs LMW comparison? That doesn't make much sense either.

Another 'what if' could be: what if there had been no 24 hour weigh-in? Two options:

a) He wouldn't have fought in that weight class
b) Dramatically increased risk of injury or sadly, even worse.

To me, as qwert said, tighter controls on check-weigh ins makes sense. I believe the WBC is 10%/5% off the weight limit at specific points - although Chavez Jr's weight, for example, would suggest these aren't enforced.

 

Kieran told me this morning he never would have tried to make the weight if it was same day weigh in's.

Gatti significantly outweighed Joey Gamache, who ended up in a coma and brain damaged.

Boxing was alright for 80 years or so.

 

That's really interesting that he said he wouldn't have made weight - it certainly reinforces your point.

I based my comments on a couple of guys I know that fought at the time of same day weigh-ins and, by their own admission, they fought in a very dehydrated state.

From my personal standpoint, I'm far more comfortable with day before weigh-ins but you make good points.