BOXERS? SAFETY, RULES REVISION MULLED IN GAB SUMMIT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Apr 2011
Cebu City ? The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) held a one day Boxing Summit at the Games and Amusements Board Cebu office Wednesday to discuss various proposals for rule revisions and inputs regarding ring safety.
The conference was lead by GAB Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon, Chief of Boxing Division Dr. Nasser Cruz and GAB Chief Medical Officer Dr. Radentor Viernes. The various promoters, trainers, managers and boxing officials based in Metro Cebu attended the meeting. They examined the proposed boxing rule changes and gave their own inputs and suggestions.
One of the items being discussed was a suggestion to have HIV screening for professional boxers. Cost cutting became an issue since those who do not belong to big boxing stables have to spend a lot for their laboratory tests. But considering that more and more boxers are fighting abroad in countries with a high HIV prevalence, it was suggested that boxers who frequently fight abroad should be tested upon renewal of their license. The number of AIDS cases in the Philippines have also been increasing. Local boxers are currently tested routinely for hepatitis but not for HIV. Both are caused by viruses found in the blood.
Another hot topic being debated was whether boxers should get insurance. They are prone to get injured and even cuts that need suturing cost a lot in private hospitals.
The GAB also proposed a rule that in the main event of a fight card, the deadline for making a ?last minute? substitute should be five days before a fight to avoid mismatches. They also proposed to extend the rest period for boxers suffering a KO or TKO due to a head blow to 60 days. If the boxer got stopped two consecutive times, he should not fight for 90 days and if he was kayoed thrice, he should rest for 120 days. Boxers who suffered serious concussions should be examined by a physician before they are pronounced fit to fight again.
The GAB is also considering scrapping the three knockdown rule which is no longer applied in most countries. The officials also discussed the proper way of wrapping hands, inspecting and taping gloves. The roles of promoters and managers with regards to their fighters and GAB officials were talked about. They also went into the need to train a new batch of referees.
Chairman Guanzon said that they will consider all the proposals they gathered here today together with the suggestions from the previous summit held in Manila. They will have a third summit in Mindanao next month and then come up with the final revision of the boxing rules here in the country.
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