McGuigan rubbishes safety measures

Ex-champion McGuigan in his heyday

Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan has criticised the British Boxing Board of Control's new safety regulations, and labelled the board's stewards "old farts".

The Board has announced recommendations based on its inquiry into the December IBF featherweight title fight in which Englishman Paul Ingle suffered a brain haemorrhage.

The BBBC's suggestions largely centred around the days leading up to a bout.

Boxers sometimes risk severe dehydration in a desperate effort to hit their fighting weight.

Random checks? Big deal! There shouldn't be random checks

  Barry McGuigan

Precautions have also been proposed for during the fight itself.

But McGuigan claimed the measures would have no impact on combating the problem of boxers' rapid weight loss prior to a fight.

"Random weight checks are absolute nonsense," McGuigan told the PA Sport news agency.

"They've (the Board) always been reluctant to change - and having a weigh-in six weeks before and then three days before the fight will change nothing."

"Random checks? Big deal! There shouldn't be random checks."

Insults

The 39-year-old drew parallels with former England rugby captain Will Carling's infamous swipe at the powers-that-be.

He said: "Carling talked about the old farts in his sport, and it's the same in boxing.

"The Board of Control are paid officials and they should do their job because at the end of the day they are culpable."

Board secretary Simon Block had claimed that the new proposals were "far-reaching" and would have "a dramatic effect on the approach of many boxers and their trainers".

There's some wisdom in the courses for trainers, but that is not the issue, the issue is rapid weight loss

  McGuigan on the board's measures

But McGuigan was quick to challenge that verdict, asking: "What have they actually said?"

"There's some wisdom in the courses for trainers, but that is not the issue.

"The issue is rapid weight loss. That is the one common denominator with all fighters that have been hurt - rapid weight loss."

McGuigan was not the only one to criticise the measures.

And former boxer Spencer Oliver, who came close to death in 1998 when he suffered a blood clot in a title defence at the Royal Albert Hall, backed up McGuigan's views.

Oliver had to undergo brain surgery after being knocked down for the second time in the 10th round of the defence of his European super-bantamweight title against Ukrainian Sergei Devakov.

Oliver backs McGuigan's claims

Boxing chiefs had promised a major shake-up after that tragedy amid talk that Oliver had trouble hitting his weight limit.

Oliver, who is at peak fitness again, has ridiculed suggestions that this time the Board have taken steps that will prevent another serious injury.

Referring to the training diaries that will attempt to log fighters' weights, Oliver said: "They're (the trainers) going to be writing down whatever they want.

"That's not going to do anything at all. It would take too much time.

"It's probably them (the Board) being seen to look as though they're doing something.

"After my fight it was just talk. I pray to God that they do it now.

"But I bet my bottom dollar that Paul Ingle will not be the last - boxing is a dangerous business.

"Fighters do drain down to make the weight and that's a fact."

However, McGuigan did agree with the board's recommendations to introduce dietary courses for trainers, helping them give good advice to their fighters, and their decision to continue reviewing regulations governing ringside and weigh-in controls.