Boxing: McGuigan calls for weight checks
Wednesday, 10 January 2001 08:52Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan has called on the British Boxing Board of Control to monitor more closely the weights of boxers in the build up to matches. The Irishman says he feels regular checks would discourage boxers from agreeing to participate in fights where they know they cannot reach the regulation weight in time. His comments come on the day the BBBC are due to meet in London to study reports on the injury sustained by Sheffield boxer Paul Ingle in last month's IBF featherweight title fight.
"Dehydration is the one thing that has connected all of these injuries," explained McGuigan, "The problem is reducing weight too quickly, it is not about losing weight, because all fighters have trouble with that. The big problem is getting it down in a hurry - that's where the danger is. It causes dehydration in the fluid in the brain. The brain becomes smaller and there is more room for it to shake about and a greater risk. What they (the BBBC) have got to do is monitor weight loss in fighters and fighters have to understand they cannot afford to take fights when they are too heavy," he added.
McGuigan also hoped other measures would be considered by the BBBC in their efforts to prevent what happened to Ingle happening again. "They have got to make referees a little bit more alert and maybe stop fights sooner. They should also say that cornermen have to work closely with doctors. If they are not happy with a fighter, the way he looks, the way he reacts in the corner, doctors may have the ability to terminate a fight. I don't think there are going to be any radical or sweeping changes. The talk of reducing rounds and the idiotic remark by one of the MPs to reduce or to stop head-punching is ridiculous and stupid," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
