| |
(JUN 19) The ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) President Tim
Lueckenhoff has written a scorching letter to Mr. Jon Lewis, of the
Mississippi Athletic Commission, condemning the Male-Female bout (Ann Wolfe
vs. TBD) that has been approved for August 20. This bout will be taking
place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, in Biloxi, Mississippi. It is
encouraging to see the ABC step up to voice their opinion on this troubling
issue that is now again rearing it’s ugly head, and for what---the almighty
dollar?
Lueckenhoff wrote to Lewis:
“It has come to the attention of the Association of Boxing Commissions that
the Mississippi Athletic Commission has approved a professional boxing
contest between Ann Wolfe and a "TBA" male boxer which currently is
scheduled to be held on August 20, 2005 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in
Biloxi, Mississippi. Please be advised that the Association of Boxing
Commissions, of which the Mississippi Athletic Commission is a member,
staunchly abhors the sanctioning of a professional boxing contest between a
male boxer and a female boxer; and the ABC vehemently recommends that the
Mississippi Athletic Commission withdraw its approval of such a bout. A
boxing contest between a male and a female raises inherent safety concerns,
as the potential for serious injury in such a boxing contest is far greater
than in a male v. male or female v. female boxing contest. Such concerns are
premised upon the significant differences in strength, speed and ability to
take a punch. Moreover, the bones in a female are thinner and have less
calcium, especially the skull and nose; and a female's brain is not as well
equipped as a male's to endure the same force of a punch to the head. Many
state and tribal boxing commissions which are members of the Association of
Boxing Commissions have promulgated regulations expressly prohibiting a male
v. female professional boxing contest. Presuming the absence of such a
regulation in Mississippi, in the interests of the health and safety of the
boxers, as well as in the interests of integrity and fairness in the sport
of professional boxing, the Association of Boxing Commissions trusts that
the Mississippi Athletic Commission will act in accordance with this letter.
I have been authorized to state that the American Association of
Professional Ringside Physicians has expressed similar concerns regarding
the safety and the protection of female boxers if authorized to fight a male
boxer.”
Few Words from WBAN:
This is certainly NOT the first time men and women have fought each other,
in fact---there is NO HISTORY MAKING in these freak-show matches. How
successful are male-female bouts as a whole---NOT very! One of the
LAST highly publicized male-female bouts occurred on October 9, 1999---that
was almost FIVE YEARS AGO! Hats off to the ABC for letting their concerns
known.
|
|
Worldwide
