any
State boxing commission across the country, especially after hearing the
commentaries offered by Greg Sirb, the alleged national spokesperson for
regulating professional boxing. (Left)
Greg Sirb-Pennsylvania Depatment of State photoABC HAS NO CREDIBILITY
(INSIDE
BOXING) The ESPN series OUTSIDE THE LINES focuses on current issues relevant to
sports. The topic this week: SAFETY IN PROFESSIONAL BOXING.
Controversy
surrounding the defeat, subsequent injuries and coma incurred by former
heavyweight champion Greg Page in a bout held in the Sate of Kentucky prompted
the conversation about health and safety regulations in professional boxing.
The
issue of who is ultimately responsible for sanctioning fights should be of
concern to any
State boxing commission across the country, especially after hearing the
commentaries offered by Greg Sirb, the alleged national spokesperson for
regulating professional boxing. (Left)
Greg Sirb-Pennsylvania Depatment of State photo
ESPN
commentator Bob Ley invited ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) president
Greg Sirb as a guest panelist. The answers to questions asked by Ley were well
thought out and deserved definitive answers.
When
asked specifically who is responsible for match making, Sirb responded it is up
to the individual State Boxing Commission to determine who is fit or unfit to
participate in a professional bout.
When
asked specifically what precautionary measures are mandated to ensure a fighter
immediate care should there be a disaster in the ring, Sirb again deferred to
the individual State Boxing Commission.
When
asked should a fighter the age (40+) of a Greg Page be allowed to fight at all?
You guessed it, Sirb once again stated the State Boxing Commission where the
bout is held shoulders the responsibility for everything concerning any fight
conducted in their State.
This
one-half hour show was very effective in exposing the ABC and president Greg
Sirb for what the are. They are businessmen first and foremost. According to
Sirb, the alleged concern for the safety and health of any fighter is the
responsibility of each State Boxing Commission.
So
why have an Association of Boxing Commissions if there is no majority agreement
on national rules and regulations?
If
the final responsibility regarding ring tragedy lies with the State sanctioning
the bout, why have ABC president Greg Sirb offer any opinion? Why not interview
the president of the Kentucky State Athletic Commission who oversees
professional boxing in that State? Why was Greg Sirb quick to suggest that other
sports have problems with rule consistency when the topic of conversation was
specifically BOXING? The subject could not have possibly caught Sirb off
guard…or could it?
The
concern of every State Boxing Commission is allegedly the health and safety of
each and every fighter who enters the ring. If other issues are allowed to take
priority over safety and health, what good does it serve anyone to have a State
Boxing Commission?
Since
ABC president Greg Sirb was adamant in his stance concerning who is responsible,
there is no need for any Association of Boxing Commissions. Since these health
and safety concerns are addressed on a State by State basis, who needs an
organization figurehead who evidently responds to questions concerning what has
been done but has no answer as to what needs to be done?
The
Greg Page incident was tragic in that the former heavyweight champion is not
unlike most in the latter stages of his career. A payday of $1500 would surely
pay some bills. The shine of the spotlight in addition to a little cash is
appealing to most aging fighters. But this is when the responsibility and duties
of the Boxing Commission come into play.
The
10th and final round of this bout would end with controversy
surrounding the question of who is responsible when a tragedy occurs in the
ring? The sanctioning State Boxing Commission definitely has to deal with the
issue.
A
solid and hard left hook from the challenger hurt Page. He was then pushed to
the canvas where he laid some 15 minutes with a ringside physician next to him
screaming for someone to get oxygen. The call for an ambulance was not made for
some 20 minutes after the original diagnosis of concussion was made while Page
was now in critical condition.
The
first hospital arrived at by the ambulance had no critical care unit. Page had
to proceed on to a hospital that did. That late arrival meant emergency surgery
to reduce the swelling in the brain of the now comatose Greg Page.
Ambulance
availability, no oxygen at ringside and the question of should Page have been in
the ring in the first place…these are subjects ABC president Greg Sirb should
have anticipated and had answers for.
The
attending ringside physician had certification by the State of Kentucky, but a
background check conducted by ESPN staff showed sanctions in a nearby state
preventing him from practicing medicine at all.
Comments
from the girlfriend of Page regarding the physical exam given him prior to the
bout even further cloud the responsibility and liability issue.
But
one thing is certain. Greg Page lays in a Kentucky rehabilitation center unable
to speak and slowly recovering.
Neither
the Kentucky State Athletic Commission nor the Association of Boxing Commissions
chooses to accept any responsibility for the tragedy. ABC president Greg Sirb
went as far as to say that most states don’t require an ambulance be readily
available should a serious injury occur.
Whether
you agree or not on who is responsible when a tragedy occurs in the ring, the
question remains…what relevant purpose does the ABC serve in regards to the
regulation of professional boxing here in the United States of America?
The
answer is NONE! There is no uniform agreement on issues concerning health and
safety according to ABC president Greg Sirb. They do however agree on a place to
meet for their annual meeting. That agreement obviously is more easily attained
than what the organization reason for existence is.
Thanks
to ESPN and Bob Ley for allowing the commissioners of every State in America to
hear Greg Sirb say his title of president is bogus and the Association of Boxing
Commissions is bogus as well.
What
is the association of boxing commissions other than the fact they are commission
members? If they have no agreed upon philosophy then what purpose do they serve?
That
having been said, we no longer question Greg Sirb regarding commission liability
and responsibility other than in his own State of Pennsylvania. His job
apparently is that of spokesperson for a group who enjoys the limelight when
everything goes right, but has no substantive answer when something goes wrong.
The ball as been squarely dropped in the lap of the seemingly politically
motivated State Boxing Commission of each and every state.
Health
and safety issues. Is not this what the State Boxing Commission was created for?
Responsibility and liability are two words that have now become synonymous with
professional boxing. State Boxing Commissions that sanctions any professional
bout now shoulder that load.
ABC
president Greg Sirb made that clear with his statements regarding the Greg Page
incident.