Implications for boxing post Blackwell tragedy...

I have little doubt lawyers would initially be involved in the 'duty of care' suggestion, but eventually precedents would be set.

As for my other idea, I do not see it being a huge issue. I only think it would be a factor in a match involving a teak tough limited journeyman and a good prospect. As a mismatch probably would be all over before the scenario was hit, and more competitive matches would be close enough that it would not be an issue.

 

I like the idea of doctors going into the corner between rounds. At the moment they only do it if there's an injury - they should have more discretion if they feel a fighter is being badly beaten.

 

I know it's a different fight and different circumstances but I can clearly remember Eubank Sr Vs Watson II.

I'm not talking about after care, ringside doctors or any of the things that rightly changed after the fight but that fight left me believing nothing can be done to stop these sorts of injuries/tragedies in certain circumstances.

If anybody should have been pulled out that night it was Eubank Sr. Eubank Sr was battered from round one to round eleven, was dropped, stood up threw one uppercut, Watson fell backwards on to his backside and his neck hit the rope and that is what nearly killed Watson and changed his life forever.

One punch, thats all it takes sometimes. Those are the fine lines and dangers every fighter faces every time they step in the ring.

 

Doctors being able to go into the ring between rounds and trainers being given training on what signs to look for in a person with a brain bleed would help. These could potentially catch a fighter with a head injury early and save their life or quality of life after a succesful surgery.

Us fans need to change, too. Look at some of the stick trainers get for pulling their man out early, or the "British stoppage" abuse our refs get for being more cautious than refs from other countries.

More longer term, as another poster mentioned, is changes to help prevent or reduce the cumulative effects of fighting long term. These are the problems of boxing that fans and non fans rarely talk about, but are far more prevalent than the more dramatic injuries Blackwell, Watson, McClellan, etc, sustain. It is far too easy for fighters to pass the current medicals and keep on fighting.

 

I mentioned the doctors thing over the weekend. I read an article from the Nuerosurgeon of Michael Watson he was saying about Nicks head snapping back and the effects of the acceleration and deacceleration on the brain. Maybe looking at having a Doctor watching a fight on the monitor and then say call a Doctor at ringside to perform a test. The flaw of this is how many times do you see a fighter taking the punishment Nick Blackwell took and still standing not many. Its all retrospect what happened Saturday is very rare.

Nick was not knocked down or wobbled but he was hurt. The punches Eubank and other boxers throw dont just bounce off you. The last couple of rounds Blackwell was very quiet and not right maybe look at how the corner work could should be improved.

And the Belgian cyclists have been on the news please dont say otherwise. I am starting to think a select few on here dont have a iq or watch the news. How are u supposed to know about the cyclists duuh its been on the news

 

What people are saying regarding the Belgian cyclists is that there is no calls for cycling to be banned or significantly reformed whereas with boxing, the knives are out the second a tragedy occurs.

 

Nothing officially will change but human nature will mean Refs and maybe even corners will err on ending fights prematurely

Boxers cannot afford to allow themselves to get whailed on under any circumstances

 

Yes, but I don't think those had any effect on Nick. He was covering up and firing back nicely. The uppercuts on their other hand were dreadful, obviously caused the damage, and in the second half of a fight I think the ref is quite entitled to say this is getting ridiculous and stop the fight. It's not as if Nick didn't look damaged.

 

I don't think Refs are going to be doing detailed diagnostics. Just in general terms, all of the 'line ball' cases whether it be accumualated damage or one barrage will fall the side of stoppages

Has it been determined if Nick's injuries were as a result of this fight only ? or accumulative over years ?

 

That's an interesting point actually

 

How often do you need to have brain scans to keep your licence? Is it yearly?

 

Pretty sure this has not been established by a long shot but its a very very good question.

 

I think it should be mandatory after every fight, i wonder how much a scan costs?

 

If you are a Journeyman fighting every two/three weeks each season, it would unviable economically.

 

For a basic MRI you are talking £300-400 so as has been said it would be unviable for it to take place after every fight.