All professional boxers should undergo neuropsychological testing to be allowed to enter the ring, suggests a coroner investigating the death of the 18-year-old Mexican knockout victim. fatal in Montreal in 2021.
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“Although the goal of boxing is to knock your opponent to the ground and render him unconscious, this death remains an accident,” concluded Dr. Jacques Ramsay in a detailed report published today.
Jeanette Guadalupe Zacarias Zapata died after a fight against Marie-Pier Houle on August 28, 2021.
She suffered a knockout in the fourth round and had to be evacuated by ambulance. His death was announced a few days later.
During the final round of the fatal fight, the boxer received a violent blow to the chin, forcing her to retreat towards the corner. She was then affected by a “left-right” combination.
She then received a blow to her left temple, “which left her dazed,” summarizes the coroner. We had to support her until the nurse arrived. She then collapsed to the ground.
“The Culture of Boxing”
The coroner was naturally interested in the cause of death of the pugilist, who died as a result of blows to the head.
However, he took the analysis even further and even questioned the rules in place to protect boxers.
Remember that Jeanette Guadalupe Zacarias Zapata suffered a knockout. fifteen weeks before his death, during a fight in Mexico. His fall was filmed: we see him being dominated and receiving several blows to the head. She then just held on to the cables before collapsing.
Screenshot from the video of the fight in which boxer Jeanette Guadalupe Zacarias Zapata suffered a concussion in May 2021. Screenshot
A medical examination revealed nothing unusual. However, she was kept away from the ring for 60 days as required by the regulations of the boxing commission of the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Then, before her fight on Quebec soil, the boxer had to fill out a questionnaire at the request of the Régie des alcohols, des courses et des jeux (RACJ). She had reported nothing to be concerned about and even said she had never had a concussion or loss of consciousness.
“So that means she doesn’t consider this her knockout. in May as a concussion,” the coroner noted.
The latter was very concerned about the strong trivialization of neurological symptoms in boxers “of all levels”, who tend to trivialize their condition in order to get back into the ring as quickly as possible.
“It is a practice that is part of the boxing culture,” he lamented.
Refine medical examinations
To avoid another death during a fight, there is no reason to extend the automatic 60-day ban after a brain knockout, but rather to “refine” boxers’ ratings, he said.
Boxer Jeanette Guadalupe Zacarias Zapata died on September 2, 2021. Courtesy of Magnus Poirier
This would make it possible to better target athletes who require additional downtime.
In the case of Ms. Zacarias Zapata, an old head injury “may have weakened the meninges and cerebral vessels.” Thus, the second attack on August 28 would have completed an earlier breach.
Dr. Ramsay therefore recommends the mandatory introduction of neuropsychological testing for all boxers who fall victim to a knockout. following blows to the head.
The RACJ should also request as much information as possible about the fight in which the boxer was injured, including video if possible, but also post-fight medical examinations.
“Ultimately, the promoter must understand that this responsibility is shared, as the approval of their fight card by the RACJ is dependent on compliance with these requirements,” wrote Dr. Ramsay.
In addition, he also believes that the RACJ should make neuropsychological tests mandatory, which could potentially serve as a comparison with subsequent tests if the athlete falls victim to a knockout. cerebral.
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