Properly, we’re a number of days into what might’ve been a sport-rattling story of doubtful ethics and regulatory chaos. And– shock, surprise– we’re no nearer to attending to the underside of that mess than when the controversy first flared up.
On Sunday, phrase hit the net Universo Pugilistico that Tony Weeks, the man on the middle of one other “he stopped the combat too quickly” controversy in Vergil Ortiz’s first-round stoppage of overmatched Fredrick Lawson Saturday evening in Vegas, had gone public with a proof of his actions.
Writing by way of (unverified) Fb web page (in a since-deleted put up), the veteran referee mentioned this:
“What the general public did not know that previous to the combat they did a mind scan on him, and it got here up that he had an aneurysm, they usually did a take a look at once more, and the identical aneurysm got here up. One other physician was introduced in and gave him the identical examination and he examined unfavorable for the aneurysm, so that they cleared him to combat.”
And, whereas social media erupted with a collective “huh?,” boxing media collectively shrugged their shoulders and instinctively blamed Weeks for “throwing the fee/promotion below the bus.”
Golden Boy, who promoted that DAZN evening of mismatches capped off by the worst one, issued the next response by way of social media (oddly sufficient, utilizing the “spooky” filter on their picture editor):
“Fredrick Lawson was cleared by a Nevada State Athletic Fee sanctioned physician to combat on Saturday evening. All different questions must be referred to NSAC.”
Shortly after that, the Nevada State Athletic Fee (NSAC) chimed in.
An e-mail from the fee to media learn:
“On January 6, 2024, a contest was held between Vergil Ortiz and Fredrick Lawson in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Contest was below the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Fee. The well being and security of the unarmed combatants that compete within the State are paramount to the Fee. All contestants within the occasion have been topic to full medical examinations and have been cleared by medical consultants to compete with out restrictions. The Fee and its Govt Director will proceed its ongoing follow of reviewing its official’s efficiency throughout and after an occasion.”
Properly, that settles it. Clearly. Hardly a phrase has been spoken by media since. There have been a few nameless statements from “sources” who mentioned Lawson acquired medical clearance to combat, however that was by no means actually the difficulty. After all he was cleared to combat, ultimately.There’s so much that also must be sorted out. Or, at the very least, mentioned…considerably…perhaps?
The fee groupies and promotional firm boot-lickers have jumped to the protection of “their” aspect. Weeks was clearly mendacity, attempting to save lots of his job. There’s no means a fighter might fail a mind examination and nonetheless be allowed to combat!
Nevertheless, there IS a reasonably traceable historical past of commissions and promotions working laborious to avoid failed checks to “save” an occasion. At one time, Edwin Valero, for instance, had failed a number of mind exams– till he discovered the “proper” physician within the “proper” fee. Journeyman Lanardo Tyner, who failed an EEG (electroencephalography), additionally discovered a fast path again to the ring when he acquired to the “proper” physician giving the “proper” exams.
There are numerous different instances of this sort of shoddy, harmful, and unethical conduct, however they’re more durable to seek out within the current tense as a result of the mainstream media has deserted boxing and, nicely, look who we’ve masking the game now– the BOXING media.
Golden Boy, given Vergil Ortiz’s lengthy and up to date run of irritating canceled fights, would’ve been extraordinarily (and aggressively) desperate to NOT have one other last-minute Ortiz combat cancellation. The NSAC, given Golden Boy’s current vow to convey extra fights to Las Vegas, might even have been extraordinarily desperate to appease the promotion by retaining the Ortiz combat alive.
None of that is to say that Golden Boy or the NSAC are responsible of any wrongdoing. The chance, although, IS value wanting into. It’s value wanting into, simply as a lot because the questions surrounding Weeks are value wanting into. As an example, why was Weeks made conscious of such take a look at outcomes and, then, why did he select to associate with officiating a combat that he clearly felt might be headed in the direction of tragedy? The choice to ref a bout he was decided to cease early was going to be a lose-lose for everybody, together with the followers.
The one positive factor in all of this, nevertheless, was that Fredrick Lawson– a profession welterweight with failing punch resistance and expertise/capability that made him a assured human sacrifice to a bursting-at-the-seams prospect/monster– by no means belonged within the ring with Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Only a day earlier, with an apparent Ortiz-Lawson mismatch looming, a fawning boxing media yucked it up with Golden Boy founder and figurehead Oscar De La Hoya, sipping on champagne (or was it wine?) as they got a tour of De La Hoya’s new Las Vegas mansion. No one uttered a essential phrase. The day was all happiness, sunshine, and “take a look at me in a mansion” posts on social media. THAT’S our boxing media.
“We need to make 2024 a particular yr,” De la Hoya advised the happy-tailed reporters gathered earlier than him. “We recognize every little thing that you simply guys do and I do know you guys recognize every little thing we do and, so, we need to make this a household….Boxing IS a household…and we’re simply getting began.”
