WBC DISCUSSES MEDICAL & SAFETY ISSUES DURING 46th ANNUAL WORLD CONVENTION
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 06 Nov 2008
Chengdu, China (Nov. 5, ?08) ? In a historic moment for the People?s Republic of China, the first ever WBC World Championship Boxing Event will be held this Friday, Nov. 7th at the Sichuan Gymnasium billed - ?We Are Together.? No less than WBC heavyweight matches between Andrew Golota (Chicago, USA) vs. Ray Austin (Ohio, USA) then Jameel McCline (Florida, USA) vs Mike Mollo (Chicago, USA) will be seen. Lightweight attractions will be Marco Antonio ?The Baby Faced Assasin? Barrera against Sammy Ventura (both Mexicans) and Devon Alexander (St. Louis, MO) vs. Sun-Haeng Lee (Korea). A WBC Strawweight Championship (Interim) fight between Juan ?El Exterminador? Palacios (Nicaragua) and Teruo Misawa (Japan) should be an exciting match. An opening 10 round WBC Female Middleweight Championship bout between Wang Ya Nan (China) and Akondaye Fountain (Texas, USA) will be staged. Don King Promotions and Chengdu Sports Industry promote this boxing event in coopration with the city of Chengdu. This coincides with the last night of the WBC 46th Annual World Convention held from Nov. 2-8, 2008 at the JinJiang Hotel No. 80. 2nd Section, Renmin South Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China.
This is the first time a WBC Convention is held in China since its inception more than 40 years ago. WBC is one of the best professional boxing organizations in the world with members from more than 100 countries including promoters, ring officials, boxers, referees, judges, media and agents. Well known boxers who fought for WBC belts/ titles include Ali, Holyfield, Tyson, Lewis, Klitschko, Mayweather, De La Hoya & Pacquiao among others.
WBC President Don Jose Sulaiman (c) addresses assembly during convention with 2008 Board of Governors in sidelines. (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto).
During his opening speech WBC President Don Jose Sulaiman (unanimously re-elected by the WBC Executive Board of Governors for 2008-2012 term), mentioned several points regarding medical safety in boxing - ?Our doctors discovered fatigue as the most dangerous in our sport and took the courageous decision of changing the 15 rounds of the past, for its taking boxers over the limits of human endurance, and brought in the 12 round rule, which is today the standard in the world.
?We found the weigh-in ceremonies done the same day of the fight to be an inhuman dehydration of a human body. We changed it to 24 hours before the bouts. For many boxers were inhumanly sacrificed to get rid of excessive weight within 30 days before a fight, and the WBC implemented the official pre-weigh-in 30 and seven days before the date of the fight, with a 10 and five percent, respectively, of overweight allowance.
?After almost a century of having continuous face-cuts, many dangerous concussions and brain damage, the WBC introduced the rule of eliminating the six-ounce gloves and substituted for them eight and 10-ounces for better protection. After countless retina detachments by the illegal use of thumbs by rival boxers, the WBC invented the thumb-attached glove that has practically totally eliminated them.?
?With a history of dangerous injuries and life-threatening substances used on the eyebrows and the face for more than a century, the WBC prohibited dangerous hemostatics, smelling salts, and instituted the exclusive use of adrenaline 1/1000, which is absolutely safe.?
?Medicine in boxing in 1975 was only the medical exam during the weigh-ins of the heart rate, blood pressure, and ?Open your mouth and God bless you.? Today, we have a WBC World Medical Board, chaired by Dr. Paul Wallace that has had two World Medical Congresses, as well as many others through the years, with ring doctors coming from more than 80 countries to attend those congresses. Thanks to the recommendation of the medical board, the WBC has reduced the 20 deaths of those years to the two or three or four of today.?
During the afternoon workshop session, the WBC Physicians had a meeting presided by Chairman Dr. Paul Wallace (USA) of the Medical Advisory Board. The participants include, Dr. Nasser Cruz (Philippines), Dr. Robert Karns (USA), Dr. Peter Ngatane (Africa), Dr. Park (Korea), Dr. Pedro Sequira (Nicaragua) & Dr. Allan Recto (Texas, USA).
Recommendations to the Board of Governors will be presented all in favor of medical safety in boxing. Standardization of medical exams including forms, weigh-in issues, rehydration, medical clearance, etc. were discussed. Boxing is indeed the only sport that remains a mystery from the beginning of the first round up to the sounding of the bell for the last round or earlier where each fighter?s objective is to significantly hurt his opponent to win the match. The ringside physicians together with other boxing officials should work together for the health, life and safety of the boxer who depend on them during the fight.
Notes: Final Media workouts at Sichuan Gymnasium were held yesterday. Heavyweights weigh-in will be at 1 PM today Wed, Nov. 5th and Non-heavyweight weigh-in at 2:30 pm tomorrow Thursday, Nov. 6th, at Ha Ha Ni Experience Center, Bojing Square. Fight Night will be Nov. 7th with doors opening at Sichuan Gymnasium, No. 11, Rengming Middle Road, Chengdu at 5:30 pm. Boxers that attended this 46th WBC Convention include champions ? Vladimir Klitschko, Timothy Bradley, Oscar Larios, among others while promoters include Gary Shaw, Sean Gibbons of Sycuan, International Matchmaker Sampson Leckowitz, Golden Boy Promotions VP Eric Gomez, etc. Philippine Delegates include GAB Chairman Eric Buhain, Boxing Chief Dr. Nasser Cruz and well-known Referee Bruce McTavish.
Marco Antonio Barrera shadow boxing during open media workout at Sichuan Gym, Chengdu, China. (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto).
WBC No. 1 ranked contender Devon Alexander ?The Great? pose during media day workout. (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto).
Nicaraguan boxer Juan Palacios (R) doing punch mitts at media workout (Photo by Dr. Allan Recto).
The author (R) with Thailand Promoter Piyarat of Petchyindee Boxing Promotion at lobby of JinJiang Hotel. (Photo taken by Virat Vachirarattanawong).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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