NSW: Head gear for professionals may be considered authority

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2001
NSW: Head gear for professionals may be considered authority

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - Head protection for professional bouts may be considered after
a boxer who was seriously injured in a weekend fight in Melbourne died, the Boxing Authority
of New South Wales said today.

Ahmad Popal, a 29-year-old Gold Coast-based boxer, died today in a Melbourne hospital.

Popal lost the battle for his life after hitting his head on the canvas on Friday night
in a state title bout in suburban Collingwood.

He was injured during the sixth round of a fight for the Victorian bantamweight championship
title against Tony Pappa.

Boxing Authority of NSW executive officer Dave Morland today conceded that head protection
used for amateur boxers may be considered for professional fights.

"That may be the case ... this is a professional contest and I don't believe people
who are actually the paying customer and the contestants themselves would want to wear
the gear but it's certainly something that could be looked at," he told ABC radio.

However, making the head out of bounds in professional bouts was unlikely to be an
option, he said.

"Well I don't know that people who want to see boxing would accept it, I mean it's
something that probably would have to be discussed," Mr Morland said.

Popal's injury sparked renewed calls by the Australian Medical Association for a ban
on boxing, but Mr Morland said that would achieve nothing.

"Well we believe that if you ban the sport you'll only drive (it) underground where
it'll be less controlled than what it is now," he said.

Mr Morland said the aim was to minimise injury in the sport.

"Yes there have been certain times when there have been head injuries that have resulted
in unfortunate deaths ... but we are constantly monitoring it and trying to ensure that
it doesn't happen in this state."

Mr Morland said since the Boxing Authority of NSW was set up in 1986, there had been
no deaths or severe injuries.

AAP rp/mg/de

KEYWORD: BOXER MORLAND

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.