Saturday, January 28, 2006
At least 15 states have banned the amateur contests, which are regulated in Ohio.
DAYTON (AP) -- A surgeon whose trauma team was unable to save the life of a Toughman contestant is pushing the state to ban the amateur fights because he believes they are too dangerous.
"Basically we're allowing pit-bull fighting and cock fighting to occur in human beings," said Dr. Douglas Paul. "Things that we've outlawed in the animal population, we allow in the human population."
A year ago, medics brought 27-year-old Steve Burress of Martins Ferry to Good Samaritan Hospital, where Paul is medical director of trauma surgery. Burress had collapsed after fighting in Toughman contests at nearby Hara Arena, had a massive blood clot on his brain and later died.
Paul had to deliver the news to Burress' family.
"The depth of their despair was as great as I've ever felt," Paul said.
Why this matters
At least 10 people have died after participating in Toughman contests around the country since the competition began in 1979. The contests have been banned in at least 15 states and are regulated in many others, including Ohio.
Paul believes the regulations aren't tough enough, adding the fights should be outlawed altogether.
So for the first time in his life, the doctor led a demonstration.
About 50 protesters gathered Friday across the street from Hara Arena, starting about two and a half hours before Toughman fights expected to draw 4,000 fans. Paul said would have been happy if only five people turned out.
Paul said he plans to continue protesting future fights even though it's not in his nature.
"I am not one to be an activist," Paul said. "I've never demonstrated anywhere. For some reason -- I don't know why -- this has stuck with me."
Paul has also written and e-mailed state lawmakers to try to get the fights banned, but said he has gotten little response.
"It's not something people have on their radar screen," he said.
Karen Tabor, spokeswoman for House Speaker Jon Husted, a Dayton-area Republican, said regulations governing the fights will continue to be reviewed and changed if necessary. And she said any legislation would be given full consideration, although no legislation has yet been proposed.
The other side
Supporters of the Toughman fights say steps are taken to make them as safe as possible.
Steve Coppler, president of Adore Able Promotions Inc., which recruits fighters and sells tickets for the Toughman contests, said fighters are required to take pre-fight physicals. And he said the contestants wear headgear, have large padded gloves and fight only three rounds per fight.
"We do everything to protect the fighter," Coppler said. "That's our No. 1 concern."
Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, said the regulations have been tightened since he assumed the commission post in September 2004. He said there are now background checks to prevent professional fighters from participating, pre-fight brain scans for all fighters age 35 and older, and an additional weight class to reduce the disparity in fighter weights.