On Nov.13 1982, Ray Mancini defending his lightweight, stopped Duk Ku Kim in the 14th round, and Kim died as a result thereof.
The WBC, which was not even the sanctioning body for the fight, immediately reduced the length of title fights from 15 to 12 rounds, when a team of their doctors determined that a fighter is most at risk after the 12th round.
Both other bodies followed suit.
I think title fights should go 15
Fighters have suffered brain trauma earlier in fights - it was glaringly apparent that something was very wrong with Gerald McClellan from the 7th onwards, and 15 had been the mandatory distance for decades with no other such problems.
Kim was a mismatched fighter who had to lose a lot of weight rapidly to make 135. If anything, they should reform the way fighters weigh in. Remember Gatti/Gamache?
A lot of important fights in the history of boxing could possibly have had different outcomes with the extra 3.
The extra 3 defines a champion.
2006-09-14
08:54:15
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12 answers
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asked by
Anonymous