THE FIGHT DOCTOR
Commissions (ABC) Fighter’s Voice Committee, which advocates for warning labels on boxing equipment like headgear. Too many assume that headgear protects a fighter against brain injury, but none on the market currently do. Yes, well-fitted headgear will protect against cuts, but not concussion. I often see poorly fitting headgear that forces the fighter to keep his/her chin up, further increasing susceptibility to a knockout/concussion. Dangerous weight cuts can contribute to more than a poor performance. “If a fighter cuts weight too early and then spars tough rounds in a depleted state close to fight, that’s a risk,” says Edwards. He agrees there is no excuse to ignore a guy getting hurt in the gym. “I send them to a hyperbaric chamber, at least 10 days off, and they must be cleared by a doctor to return.” In the U.S., fighters are given automatic suspensions by commissions, dependent upon the number of rounds they fought or the degree of punishment received. These restrictions include when they can resume contact training and a separate date for when they can schedule another bout. Unfortunately, there’s no way to “police” the gyms or make certain the fighters and their trainers are following the no-contact restrictions. So what do fighters and trainers need to know about sparring or resuming contact too soon – especially without medical clearance? A well-known fighter with an upcoming bout overseas was kayoed in the gym while finishing training in Las Vegas. He was hospitalized for several days. Unbeknownst to the commission
Edwards (left), pictured with Caleb Plant, is safety-first with his fighters.
and ring physicians, due to some dishonesty on the part of the fighter and his team, he competed, was severely knocked out and never fought again. Automatic suspensions are given for a reason. You can’t train away a head injury, whether it occurred in the gym or a bout, and you can’t underestimate the magic of rest. In fact, competing again too soon cannot just ruin a career; it can produce the lethal Second Impact Syndrome (SIS). SIS refers to a significant head injury followed by resuming contact again too soon, resulting in death. Most importantly, those working with or even residing with fighters need to understand the importance of concussion symptoms, which include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, slowed reflexes, confusion or memory problems, nausea, depression, irritability, anxiety, blurred vision or sleep disturbance. We get it! Fighters typically don’t want to admit weakness in the gym
or in a bout. But trainers and family members need to ask questions and not simply assume their boxer is OK when they may be suffering. All involved need to know that the brain changes resulting in CTE start during the fighter’s career but typically do not become evident until after retirement. There are ways to lessen the risks by limiting repetitive hits to the head, including those that don’t result in concussive blows or what is termed “sub-concussive blows.” Just like a car that breaks down after so many miles, the same pertains to the brain. Head shots are additive, and even if the eventual repercussions are ignored, head blows affect performance. No one is saying fighters shouldn’t spar. But “competitive sparring” – limiting head shots, as described by Edwards – doesn’t have to include trauma. Dr. Margaret Goodman is a former Nevada State Athletic Commission chief physician, co-hosts the Fighter Health and Safety Podcast and is president of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
“Some don’t want to talk about certain things or be reminded of the risks that might make a guy hesitant.”
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