Golden Gloves strange ending...

[Weston]

For those that don't know I have season tickets for the New England Golden Gloves tournament in Lowell, MA.

There was a New Hampshire fighter named Coyle I saw last week who caught my interest, as he seemed to have some good punching power (won by KO in his first fight). It was the beginning of the novice fights, so I generally just like to pick a few favorites to discuss with my friends etc. Well this past Tuesday Coyle is fighting again and the fight ended, I thought, very strangely.

The referee stopped the fight in the second round because both fighters had bloody noses!!!!!

The announcement was that by rule, due to both fighters having bloody noses, and their age, the fight must be stopped and go to the scorecards. Can this possibly be a real rule? Has anyone ever heard of this before? Just for some background, neither fighter seemed hurt and they were both stunned by what was happening. I saw Coyle after the fight and was still shrugging his shoulders and kind of laughing in a bewildered way. Needless to say the crowd was none to pleased with the referee.

FWIW Coyle won the fight.

[JMac]

For those that don't know I have season tickets for the New England Golden Gloves tournament in Lowell, MA.

There was a New Hampshire fighter named Coyle I saw last week who caught my interest, as he seemed to have some good punching power (won by KO in his first fight). It was the beginning of the novice fights, so I generally just like to pick a few favorites to discuss with my friends etc. Well this past Tuesday Coyle is fighting again and the fight ended, I thought, very strangely.

The referee stopped the fight in the second round because both fighters had bloody noses!!!!!

The announcement was that by rule, due to both fighters having bloody noses, and their age, the fight must be stopped and go to the scorecards. Can this possibly be a real rule? Has anyone ever heard of this before? Just for some background, neither fighter seemed hurt and they were both stunned by what was happening. I saw Coyle after the fight and was still shrugging his shoulders and kind of laughing in a bewildered way. Needless to say the crowd was none to pleased with the referee.

FWIW Coyle won the fight.

The bout was stopped on the "AIDS" rule where if both boxers are bleeding the bout can be stopped. Common sense is supposed to prevail but in this case it sounds like it did not. If I am not mistaken, there is supposed to be an open wound on one boxer and maybe a bloody nose on the other before it is stopped. Both boxers having bloody noses poses no more of a threat to getting AIDS even if one boxer actually had HIV or AIDS than only one boxer having a bloody nose. Most likely, the ref didn't want to get blood on his shirt. Stupid rule. Blood that contains the AIDS virus has to penetrate another person for it to have any chance to spread. Just getting blood that contains the virus on your skin will not do anything.
When I use to ref, I never wore rubber gloves and often people would ask, "aren't you afraid of AIDS?" I would reply no. If I didn't have a cut on my hands, what good are gloves going to do? I've had more blood sprayed on my face in bouts from a boxer with bloody noses who are breathing hard when I would go to wipe the blood. Rubber gloves wouldn't do any good at that time. It's all for show.

[Weston]

Thank you JMac for shedding some light on the decision. It was interesting that the referee in question was unknown to me and wore a different type of shirt (perhaps he was national, God I hope not).

The last thing I want to see is a kid badly hurt, but these two boxers really did not seem in danger and the decision made a mockery, to some extent, of the nature of the sport. Two kids trying to compete and a referee cavalierly making a decision that unnecessarily prevented a satisfying conclusion to most in attendance (most importantly, the fighters themselves).

Thanks again.

[WESTSIDE BOXING]

Correct that there was no chance of HIV being spread in this case.

But there is a real danger of Hepatitis being spread from a bleeding boxer, which does not die on contact with oxygen. Hepatitis is also far more common.

Hepatitis can also be spread via a bleeding boxer to other people through there eyes. This could include officials, fans, and anyone else close enough to get spattered with blood. Although the chances are low, it is still possible.

Its only a matter of time until USA Boxing requires blood tests.

[boxmel]

It was interesting that the referee in question was unknown to me and wore a different type of shirt (perhaps he was national, God I hope not).

Golden Gloves has their own uniform - blue shirts, I believe.

The last thing I want to see is a kid badly hurt, but these two boxers really did not seem in danger and the decision made a mockery, to some extent, of the nature of the sport. Two kids trying to compete and a referee cavalierly making a decision that unnecessarily prevented a satisfying conclusion to most in attendance (most importantly, the fighters themselves).

The referee was following the 'AIDS rule" to a T - there was nothing cavalier in his action. And, just so you'll know, it doesn't happen very often. 8)

[Weston]

Well cavalierly was a bad choice of words, but I was at the fight and it was not a fight that should have been stopped. If that is the rule, then the rule needs to be updated a bit. For what it is worth the crowd was still talking and joking about this decision last night (10 days after it happened). I feel bad for the loser, as he was starting to come on somewhat when the fight was stopped due to bloody noses (and not very badly bloodied noses at that)

As for the shirts, normally the New England Golden Gloves referees where a light blue golf type shirt with Golden Gloves printed in large letters on the back. The referee in question was wearing a white shirt that was dressier.

In better news, former World Champion (when there were only 8 champions) Tony DeMarco was at the fights last evening and in the ring getting introduced. I guess he has a new book out titled "Nardo".

[Weston]

sorry, duplicate post