(JUN 19) The ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions) President Tim Lueckenhoff has written a scorching letter to Mr. Jon Lewis, of the Mississippi Athletic Commission, condemning the Male-Female bout (Ann Wolfe vs. TBD) that has been approved for August 20. This bout will be taking place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, in Biloxi, Mississippi. It is encouraging to see the ABC step up to voice their opinion on this troubling issue that is now again rearing it’s ugly head, and for what—the almighty dollar?
Lueckenhoff wrote to Lewis:
“It has come to the attention of the Association of Boxing Commissions that the Mississippi Athletic Commission has approved a professional boxing contest between Ann Wolfe and a “TBA” male boxer which currently is scheduled to be held on August 20, 2005 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. Please be advised that the Association of Boxing Commissions, of which the Mississippi Athletic Commission is a member, staunchly abhors the sanctioning of a professional boxing contest between a male boxer and a female boxer; and the ABC vehemently recommends that the Mississippi Athletic Commission withdraw its approval of such a bout. A boxing contest between a male and a female raises inherent safety concerns, as the potential for serious injury in such a boxing contest is far greater than in a male v. male or female v. female boxing contest. Such concerns are premised upon the significant differences in strength, speed and ability to take a punch. Moreover, the bones in a female are thinner and have less calcium, especially the skull and nose; and a female’s brain is not as well equipped as a male’s to endure the same force of a punch to the head. Many state and tribal boxing commissions which are members of the Association of Boxing Commissions have promulgated regulations expressly prohibiting a male v. female professional boxing contest. Presuming the absence of such a regulation in Mississippi, in the interests of the health and safety of the boxers, as well as in the interests of integrity and fairness in the sport of professional boxing, the Association of Boxing Commissions trusts that the Mississippi Athletic Commission will act in accordance with this letter. I have been authorized to state that the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians has expressed similar concerns regarding the safety and the protection of female boxers if authorized to fight a male boxer.”
Few Words from WBAN:
This is certainly NOT the first time men and women have fought each other, in fact—there is NO HISTORY MAKING in these freak-show matches. How successful are male-female bouts as a whole—NOT very! One of the LAST highly publicized male-female bouts occurred on October 9, 1999—that was almost FIVE YEARS AGO! Hats off to the ABC for letting their concerns known.