Poll: Automatic Retirement

[Cap]

Question before the Community:

If a boxing commission in one jurisdiction revokes a fighter's license due to age and/or impairment, should all other jurisdictions automatically follow suit for the benefit of the fighter's own welfare?

Cap

[meade95]

Absolutely not - There is no reason one jurisdiction (in one particular State) should have such influence / power. There could be all sorts of inherit issues, problems, bias, etc, etc, within differing jurisdictions.

This concept of centeralized power is flawed thinking (the road to hell is paved with good intentions...comes to mind).

[mh2365]

I have to go with Meade on this one although I would like to see one governing body over all of boxing

[Lee]

I would also love one governing body, and if there was one in place that had specific criteria focused mainly on preserving a fighters health I could support it. As it is now, too much inconsistency and in fact there are some states that don't even have people competent enough to make decisions like this IMO.

[SAL]

I'll have to jump on the band wagon with meade, Mike and Lee here. They pretty much summed it up for me.

[Mr Big]

No.

[btown32]

I have to agree with the masses here, also. I would also like to see one governing body, but we all know that will never happen. Like Meade said, there are too many issues that could go wrong - what if the original state made the decision based on their own prejudices and interests and not in the interest of the fighter? The other states would have to follow this decision, not knowing the particuliar circumstances.

[Cap]

So, bottom line, if a boxer wants to die in the ring, he has the god-given right to do it. If one jurisdiction in Iowa or Nova Scotia finds through medical testing that a fighter has bleeding on the brain and revokes his license, he has the right to travel to another jurisdiction until he finds one with a doctor that clears him to continue his chosen profession.

Cap

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by Cap

So, bottom line, if a boxer wants to die in the ring, he has the god-given right to do it. If one jurisdiction in Iowa or Nova Scotia finds through medical testing that a fighter has bleeding on the brain and revokes his license, he has the right to travel to another jurisdiction until he finds one with a doctor that clears him to continue his chosen profession.

Cap

That's the way Joe Mesi sees it. Amazing that a white American HW can get licensed with a brain injury ... but a Mexican BW (Edwin Valero) can't.

[jbergey22]

I voted yes with the thought of one governing body taking over.

[btown32]

Originally Posted by Cap

So, bottom line, if a boxer wants to die in the ring, he has the god-given right to do it. If one jurisdiction in Iowa or Nova Scotia finds through medical testing that a fighter has bleeding on the brain and revokes his license, he has the right to travel to another jurisdiction until he finds one with a doctor that clears him to continue his chosen profession.

Cap

Unfortunately, that is how it is. Not that I agree, but until there is legislation that creates one governing body to regulate the sport, freedom to choose, free market principles and money govern what and who has a say. Nobody wants to or is willing to say no when it may violate somebody's natural rights. And remember, I dont agree, just making statement. Holyfield, Taylor, Mesi, all these guys should not be allowed to fight anymore because of medical issues. But since they dont care about those issues themselves, they will always claim to have the right to earn a living and nobody has the right to take that away from them.

[bear]

Originally Posted by Cap

So, bottom line, if a boxer wants to die in the ring, he has the god-given right to do it. If one jurisdiction in Iowa or Nova Scotia finds through medical testing that a fighter has bleeding on the brain and revokes his license, he has the right to travel to another jurisdiction until he finds one with a doctor that clears him to continue his chosen profession.

Cap

A classic example of this occured in the 50s involving the Fighting Cowboy
Reuben Shank
Global ID 9610
sex male
birth date 1921-08-08
death date 1995-12-12
division middleweight
nationality United States
aliasCowboy
birth placeKeensburg, CO
won 30 (KO 10) lost 21 (KO 6) drawn 7 = 58

In a 1947 bout in Minnesota Shank was ko'd and barely survived. His license was revoked by his home state commission and by the NBA. In the 50s he sued to regain his license. Nat Fleisher in the Ring strongly advocated that the decisions of these commisions be respected because Shank's life would be endangered, but, as can be seen in his record he had two 1954 bouts in Arizona.

Bear

[Cap]

Amazing to think how far the sport has advanced since 1954.