By Derek Bonnett: Boxing is a dangerous sport. There is simply no getting around it. However, since this is common knowledge, boxing commissions around the world must do more to insure a fighter’s safety and provide timely care once that safety has been compromised. Those who watched had to cringe a little watching Freddie Roach try to talk his fighter Jean Pascal into a surrender only to send him out for another round of punishment. Fortunately, the plug got pulled the following round, but was that round one too many? More seriously, most boxing fans remain unaware that the sport has yet another combatant fighting for his life after an exciting contest with back and forth action.
On Friday, January 29, Dexter Alimento and Chanachai CP Freshmart put on a strong eight rounds of professional fisticuffs destined to be logged with the volumes of unrecognized Fight of the Year contenders fought at a diminutive weight class. The two minimumweight combatants traded leather at a furious pace with CP Freshmart pressing the action and throwing heavy shots at Alimento, who countered well off the back foot with straight punches down the pipe. CP Freshmart lead by three scores of 77-75 at the end of the eighth round. However, once in his corner, the Thai boxer slumped to the canvas and could not be revived by his corner men. The Pinoy boxer claimed the victory, but the attention was on CP Freshmart, who was forced to wait for very untimely medical care. At last report, both men had been hospitalized; Alimento more so for precautionary measures. CP Freshmart had yet to regain consciousness and was treated for what was described as a “little” brain bleed. The Thai boxer remains in the ICU with brain specialists working to evaluate his condition.
All boxers know the risk of entering the ring, but that does not mean we should gamble with their health further by providing inadequate healthcare in and out of the ring. Commissions around the world need to do more to evaluate fighters between rounds to prevent injured boxers from continuing to absorb punishment. A ring physician in each corner every round would be a nice start. Once a fighter is deemed in serious need, that medical attention must be prompt. Thinking back on Magomed Abdusalamov telling his corner as early as round two that he did not feel right is haunting. Had a ring doctor whose job it was to conduct evaluative measures every three minutes been in the corner, this tragedy or many others could have been prevented or addressed sooner. What’s the worst that could happen? Promoters and venues might have to spend a little more money and, possibly, the rules may have to be changed to provide more time between rounds. Fans could certainly live with the first. Some might argue about the increased time between rounds, but would only sound callous once the reasoning behind it was considered. Truthfully, I am at a loss for what to do, but cannot express enough how concerned I am for the well-being of my favorite athletes in the world.
SecondsOut fighters On the Move:
On Saturday, January 30, at Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Sergey Kovalev forced Jean Pascal into seventh round corner retirement in a IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight title rematch. Kovalev dropped Pascal in the first round, but it was incorrectly ruled a slip. The official time of the stoppage was 3:00 of round seven. Kovalev made his third defense of the unified titles and lifted his ledger to 29-0-1 (26). Pascal fell to 30-4-1 (17).
Kovalev remained SecondsOut’s number light heavyweight in the world today. Pascal lost his number seven ranking and fell out of the SecondsOut top ten after looking like the shell of a once top-flight fighter. The previously ranked eight through ten contenders moved up one ranking. Marcus Browne claimed the ten spot.
At Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London, United Kingdom, George Groves defeated Andrea Di Luisa in five rounds of a light heavyweight bout. Groves dropped Di Luisa in round four and twice more in round five. Di Luisa’s corner threw in the towel at the 1:55 mark. Groves raised his record to 22-3-0 (17), winning for the first time since his November title fight defeat against Badou Jack. Di Luisa fell to 18-4-0 (14), losing by stoppage for the fourth time.
Groves remained SecondsOut’s number seven rated super middleweight in the world as it is expected he will not be campaigning as a full-time light heavyweight.
Also On the Move, Hekkie Budler climbed back into the number one position this week without throwing a punch. For that matter, neither did the now number two-rated Wanheng Menayothin. However, Menayothin signed to face yet another sub-par opponent for his next defense while Budler will meet another SecondsOut top ten rated foe come March. Hopefully, the two will fight to prove who is the definitive top 105-pounder in the world today.
SecondsOut ranked fighters in action through Sunday, February 7, 2016:
On Thursday, February 4:
In Bangkok, Thailand, Knockout CP Freshmart versus Carlos Buitrago II in a twelve round interim WBA minimumweight title bout
For a more in depth look at Derek Bonnett’s SecondsOut world rankings:
https://www.secondsout.com/rankstat/secondsout-rankings
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January 30, 2016
