THE FIGHT DOCTOR
a hyperbaric chamber (a pressurized enclosure that forces more oxygen to be absorbed by the body), yoga, no running, overhydrate, correct food intake and sleep.” He agrees “gym wars” serve no purpose, only contribute to brain trauma, and believes in “competitive sparring” where his guys don’t take too much punishment. He also watches out for sparring partners’ safety. “I’ve stopped sparring partners when I have told a coach that’s enough. They might say, ‘Oh, my guy is OK,’ but I stop it and still pay the guy.” Erik Magraken – a combat sports regulatory attorney as well as a licensed Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA judge – has always been a strong advocate for better brain health in fighters: “The trainer is ground zero, and they must take brain health seriously. Combat sports have the lowest level of brain health education, and most gyms are without concussion protocols in place.” In 2022, Magraken teamed up with former fighters Rose Gracie and Carla Duran (daughter of well-known cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran) to create two posters – one listing the symptoms of concussion, how one can occur and how to seek help; and a second poster detailing CTE, its symptoms, and how fighters can lessen risks. He reached out to every commission, asking them to post them on their websites. Many did, including Nevada and Illinois, but they also received a blessing from the Association of Ringside Physicians, which lists the information as a resource. Magraken even physically drove the posters to all the gyms in his surrounding area of British Columbia, advocating for them to be posted. Not everyone agreed to post the potentially life-saving information. He didn’t know the reason but wondered if they considered it bad for business. Edwards adds, “Some don’t want to talk about certain things or be reminded of the risks that might make a guy hesitant.” Magraken also helped create and sits on the Association of Boxing
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound
E very ringside physician will tell you that serious boxing injuries originate in the gym. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Throughout their career, a fighter spends countless hours sparring and a comparative fraction of time in actual fights. So how do we proactively protect fighters from concussion, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and brain bleeds? What should every trainer and every fighter know – irrespective of them accepting the risks? Pennsylvania-based Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, one of boxing’s most respected trainers, has always been a strong advocate for fighter safety. “When I begin working with of Cure By Dr. Margaret Goodman
a fighter, I start with the basics before sparring begins. You check the gloves. I don’t allow Velcro gloves and make certain they’re taped right, or it can contribute to injury.” Brain health is of primary concern. Although the studies are limited, he believes a well-fitted mouthguard made by a dentist and re- evaluated yearly can make a difference by absorbing some forces contributing to a knockout. Edwards, who trained former unified junior middleweight titleholder Julian Williams, closely watches a fighter’s reaction time during sparring: “If my fighter is sluggish, I have no trouble giving him time off for a recovery day (to avoid injury). That means massage,
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