Adilson Rodrigues - Not doing well...

[evrenb]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0nMiGNr8QE

Didn't know he was doing so bad. One of the Heavyweights I followed in the late 1980's and early 1990's...most famous for his two losses to Foreman and Holyfield. A very decent boxer who didn't have a stellar chin.

[badkatt]

sad stuff

[Kalan]

This is not only the result of outrageous mismatches... It's also mangers, trainers, and boxing commissioners putting boxers back into the ring when they know they're having trouble with balance, reflexes, motor skills, coordination, or speech... There is no way you can get a decent job outside of Boxing if you keep entering the ring after you've been badly hurt. Even when somebody hires one of these damaged ex-boxers out of pity - they'll soon be out of a job and a burden on their children or other relatives.

There needs to be comprehensive rules drawn up to keep so many boxers from ending up like Rodrigues -- rules that err on the side of caution -- but it never seems to happen and many fighters live for 20 or 30 years or more, not having a decent life after Boxing.

[Controversial]

This is not only the result of outrageous mismatches... It's also mangers, trainers, and boxing commissioners putting boxers back into the ring when they know they're having trouble with balance, reflexes, motor skills, coordination, or speech... There is no way you can get a decent job outside of Boxing if you keep entering the ring after you've been badly hurt. Even when somebody hires one of these damaged ex-boxers out of pity - they'll soon be out of a job and a burden on their children or other relatives.

There needs to be comprehensive rules drawn up to keep so many boxers from ending up like Rodrigues -- rules that err on the side of caution -- but it never seems to happen and many fighters live for 20 or 30 years or more, not having a decent life after Boxing.

Rules such as what, age limits, only allowed so many fights? Its almost impossible to have rules to protect fighters becoming damaged, fighters who are knocked out easily are likely to be less damaged than a fighter being pounded on fight after fight.

[Kalan]

Rules such as what, age limits, only allowed so many fights? Its almost impossible to have rules to protect fighters becoming damaged, fighters who are knocked out easily are likely to be less damaged than a fighter being pounded on fight after fight.

It’s a mistake to try to stereotype the style or toughness of a boxer who will end up badly damaged. Tough guys who’ve taken tremendous punishment in many fights, such as: George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Tex Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Max Baer, Max Schmeling, and Mickey Walker often fared better after long careers than boxers thought by many to have excellent boxing skills, such as: Meldrick Taylor, Terry Norris, Gerald McClellan, Wilfredo Benitez, Ray Robinson, and Muhammad Ali.
The rules don’t have to be complex…
Before every fight an experienced neurologist should do a basic check of issues that boxers often suffer from. Every boxer on the card should be checked for movement disorders, speech disorders, and peripheral nervous system functioning of their eyes, ears, skin, and other sensory receptors. A 5 to 10 minute check for basic neurological disorders that boxers often suffer from.

If I take a look at a boxer and can tell he’s developing some problems, a professional neurologist will find 10 X what I can see with a quick checkup.. If a boxer is suffering from symptoms of neurological illness he needs to be struck from the card. His license needs to be revoked until he passes a more thorough neurological exam with no conflicts of interest like Ali’s Mayo Clinic exam.

The main problem is, advanced neurological damage is usually irreversible and progressive – even after a boxer stops fighting, if he has significant damage it’s going to progress steadily. Therefore you need to check for it before every fight and catch those problems early.

Boxers often know themselves that they having problems. They think nobody else sees it. Nobody says anything because they want to be tactful. Boxers tell themselves lies like “From now on I’ll be much better defensively. I’ll practice defense until I’m a defensive genius.” They’ll promise themselves anything to keep the paydays coming. They need to be told, “These are the normal range of readings for these tests. These are your readings. Look at the difference here and here. Unfortunately we’re seeing some motor impairment which will get worse and worse if you take any more blows to the head.”

If the fighter says, “Oh Please doctor, I have a family to support.” He needs to be told “What happens to your family if you become disabled and unemployable? One more punch could do it. You’re at an elevated risk for that.” ... Boxers are reasonable people, but they’re emotional people. If doctors would only talk straight to boxers instead of hedging around the bush they’ll accept their fate. “Okay doctor. I guess I need to look for another job. Do you need a driver or a gardener?” ... Boxers joke about it if they fail a neurological test, and they will generally quit if they told to quit.. The problem is doctors will feel sorry for boxers, start hedging around and tell they need to start thinking about retiring.. They don't tell patients to stop smoking after another 5 packs.

[Controversial]

It’s a mistake to try to stereotype the style or toughness of a boxer who will end up badly damaged. Tough guys who’ve taken tremendous punishment in many fights, such as: George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Tex Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Max Baer, Max Schmeling, and Mickey Walker often fared better after long careers than boxers thought by many to have excellent boxing skills, such as: Meldrick Taylor, Terry Norris, Gerald McClellan, Wilfredo Benitez, Ray Robinson, and Muhammad Ali.
The rules don’t have to be complex…
Before every fight an experienced neurologist should do a basic check of issues that boxers often suffer from. Every boxer on the card should be checked for movement disorders, speech disorders, and peripheral nervous system functioning of their eyes, ears, skin, and other sensory receptors. A 5 to 10 minute check for basic neurological disorders that boxers often suffer from.

Sure there are always exceptions, my point was a clean KO is probably less damaging than losing on points but being punched repeatedly throughout the fight. McClellan was damaged whilst in the fight so no check would've saved him. I agree they could introduce more rigorous preemptive checks, not sure it would be feasible to check every fighter before every fight though and it still wouldn't stop some fighters getting seriously hurt. Also if you make it too rigid chances are some fighters will resort to fighting on unlicensed bills if that's their only way of earning a living. Its a difficult one.

[evrenb]

I believe the BBBOFC are looking into the idea of hand held brain scanners...a step further in the right direction....they could be crucial and importantly very cost effective....

[littlepug]

I believe the BBBOFC are looking into the idea of hand held brain scanners...a step further in the right direction....they could be crucial and importantly very cost effective....

Should become mandatory equipment within every org/body

[evrenb]

I hope it's a positive step forward in a way that commissions and promoters can afford to implement.

[littlepug]

Just looked online and you can buy one for about £300

[evrenb]

Just looked online and you can buy one for about £300

That's brilliant then. I hope they are effective enough to make a difference...

[littlepug]

Just looked online and you can buy one for about £300

That's brilliant then. I hope they are effective enough to make a difference...

90% effective whatever that means but sounds a very useful tool

[Cutman Scabbers]

Anyone know Portuguese?

[Kalan]

It’s a mistake to try to stereotype the style or toughness of a boxer who will end up badly damaged. Tough guys who’ve taken tremendous punishment in many fights, such as: George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Tex Cobb, Jack Dempsey, Max Baer, Max Schmeling, and Mickey Walker often fared better after long careers than boxers thought by many to have excellent boxing skills, such as: Meldrick Taylor, Terry Norris, Gerald McClellan, Wilfredo Benitez, Ray Robinson, and Muhammad Ali.
The rules don’t have to be complex…
Before every fight an experienced neurologist should do a basic check of issues that boxers often suffer from. Every boxer on the card should be checked for movement disorders, speech disorders, and peripheral nervous system functioning of their eyes, ears, skin, and other sensory receptors. A 5 to 10 minute check for basic neurological disorders that boxers often suffer from.

Sure there are always exceptions, my point was a clean KO is probably less damaging than losing on points but being punched repeatedly throughout the fight. McClellan was damaged whilst in the fight so no check would've saved him. I agree they could introduce more rigorous preemptive checks, not sure it would be feasible to check every fighter before every fight though and it still wouldn't stop some fighters getting seriously hurt. Also if you make it too rigid chances are some fighters will resort to fighting on unlicensed bills if that's their only way of earning a living. Its a difficult one.

Boxers who fail a neurological tests will generally quit if they told to quit---and they trust the doctor to be straight with them.. The problem is doctors will start hedging around when the boxer starts talking about supporting his family.. The natural thing is to resist when somebody tells you you're out of a job.. But if the doctor stands his ground and explains the tests, the boxer certainly doesn't want to get hurt.. He doesn't want to end up a vegetable.. The problem is with doctors who hate to tell patients bad news -- and don't trust them with all the information -- and then hedge and waffle around when the boxer pleads with them.. When you see fighters going into the ring hurt, a weak assed doctor had something to do with that.

[Cutman Scabbers]

apparently there was talk of taking Tyson down to Rio de Janeiro to fight
Rodrigues during Mardi Gras. Now that would have been something!

[evrenb]

apparently there was talk of taking Tyson down to Rio de Janeiro to fight
Rodrigues during Mardi Gras. Now that would have been something!

Tyson would have been in whoring heaven!!!!!

[Cutman Scabbers]

apparently there was talk of taking Tyson down to Rio de Janeiro to fight
Rodrigues during Mardi Gras. Now that would have been something!

Tyson would have been in whoring heaven!!!!!

Maybe Adilson Rodrigues would have pulled off the Buster Douglas!

[Kalan]

LOL.. Very few guys had the raw ability to pull a Buster Douglas and Adilson Rodgigues was NOT one of them.

Douglas didn't think he'd beat Tyson. He knew he'd beat him. I learned that if a guy doesn't sound self-deluded, like he's in Zu Zu Land, and he insists matter-of-factly that he's going to win every round, you need to give him a look.. Douglas didn't talk or sound like a 42-1 underdog ahead of the fight.. It was actually Tyson who looked a little concerned.. Douglas fought exactly like he talked.

A guy who might have pulled a Buster Douglas and been a 70-1 underdog was Greg Page.. He was lazier than Douglas and had more personal problems - but he got himself ready to fight Gerrie Coetzee.. He could have gone 12 hard rounds but he didn't have to.. He has some natural ability but never used it. That win was sandwiched in between 4 or 5 losses where the train never left the station.