Since most of these poor boxers don’t even have a high-school certificate to brag about, they see the boxing ring not as a dangerous workplace but a welcoming gate towards a better life. The desire of holding big bills in their hands outweighs any fear they may have of getting seriously hurt. (Photo: University of Nevada Las Vegas boxing coach Frank Slaughter (L) and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines with Filipino boxer Z Gorres (C), REUTERS)
The sad fact that these boxers care less about who they will fight, but more about how much money they will get, adds more danger to the already dangerous sport. They are preyed upon by shrewd promoters and matchmakers and usually pitted against top-caliber boxers without remonstration from boxing authorities. As a result, boxing bouts become a show of cruel one-sided beating rather than what it should be - a display of boxer’s fighting skills and talent. This exhibition of unnecessary brutality in the ring often invites serious injuries, or even death.
The news about Filipino boxer Z Gorres badly hurt after his unanimous decision victory against Colombian Luiz Melendez in Las Vegas, Nevada last November was already sad. However, the news about his hospital bill amounting to more than half a million US dollars was way sadder. Only about a tenth of this massive amount ($50,000) is available to him as medical insurance under the Nevada Athletic Commission’s regulations. His family, whom he had intended to offer whatever earnings he could get from boxing to better their lives, will now carry an insurmountable load on their shoulders of paying the remaining enormous amount, on top of an equally difficult task of taking care of a partially paralyzed family member.
Although incidents such as Gorres’s are generally rare the notion of implementing a better medical insurance policy to safeguard the family members of an injured boxer from financial woes should be closely studied. In a sport in which brain injuries are bound to happen, coupled by the fact that hospital bills for such injuries are far from affordable for most people, a better insurance for boxers is not only necessary but just.
BrainAndSpinalCord.org, an internet website that provides reliable information about brain and spinal cord injuries, stated that “an average hospital stay for a moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI (defined as the trauma to the brain caused by an external force impinging upon the head and brain), is over 9 days. TBI patients may need a lengthy stay in a rehabilitation center; some patients may stay for three months. When the injury is severe, the intensive rehabilitation needed may average over $1,000 a day.” Basing from this figure, the $50,000 medical, surgical, and hospital care presently provided for boxers under boxing commissions’ rules clearly needs an urgent review.
Well respected boxing scribe TP Walker of Eastside Boxing generously shared his clever opinion on this issue.
TP Walker: "Increasing insurances for the sport of boxing is an often debated touchy topic. The simple and politically correct thing would be to jump on board anything that protects fighters. They put their lives on the line in the name of sport and entertainment and deserve whatever assurances we can give them. Very few occupations carry with them the level of peril that boxing does. However, every fighter knows the risks of fighting and every fighter accepts those risks when they get into the ring. Amateur boxing gyms are notorious for weeding out those who don't have the mentality and demeanor needed to be a boxer. For every 30-40 people who venture into a boxing gym maybe 1 or 2 remain for an extended period of time. Of those who do remain only a select few have the tools to compete on a substantial level."
"Having said that we must examine it closely. Not every fight card brings with it the hype and grandiose public awareness of Mayweather/Mosely, Pacquiao/Clottey or even Jones Jr./Hopkins. Most don't. On the same night that Pacquiao fights Clottey there are at least 11 other scheduled fight cards throughout the world. None of them command even a tenth of 1% of the purse that Pacquiao/Clottey will generate. This isn't isolated. It is typical to boxing. A $40,000 gate for a local show is celebrated these days."
"So what could potentially happen if extra insurances are added to the sport? One scenario is that the added insurance would have little effect on major fight cards but would impact local fight cards to the point where the bottom line is so impinged that most local promoters would no longer be able to afford to put on boxing shows. When local guys can't afford to put on boxing shows the number of shows obviously decreases. In turn many fighters never get to craft their trade, build their name or prepare themselves for the upper levels of the sport. The sport would be overtly compromised and fall victim to the increased economics. This would set the sport back in my opinion."
"No one, me included, wants to see a fighter injured but every fighter knows the risks of the ring. That's not a comforting statement to an injured fighter but it is accurate. Having said that, my sincerest prayers go out to Gorres and his family in the wake of this unfortunate event."
- Marshall N. B., marx7204@lycos.com
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Good read.
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