Former world featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan has slammed new regulations put forward by the British Boxing Board of Control earlier today. The Irishman did not hold back in his attack on the board's members when he predicted that the recommendations will make little difference in protecting boxers' safety. The BBBC made their recommendations after completing their inquiry into last December's IBF featherweight title fight that left British boxer Paul Ingle in a coma following emergency brain surgery.
Under the new regulations, all boxers will have to be weighed initially when a contest is announced. They will then be weighed three days before the fight is due to take place and then again for the official pre-match weigh-in. Boxers will also undergo random weight checks and will be allowed to consume isotonic drinks during a fight in order to combat dehydration.
However, McGuigan is adamant that these measures "will change nothing". He described the proposal of random weight checks as "absolute nonsense" and although he did admit that another proposal to introduce dietary courses for trainers is an excellent idea, overall he feels the real issue at hand - rapid weight loss - has not been dealt with appropriately by the BBBC.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
