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Lets begin with the idea
that boxing is the only sport where physical injury is the objective, well
its not. Many martial arts have sparring versions that have been going on
for many years such as kickboxing, karate, judo, Taekwondo, to name but a
few. So, if you were to ban Toughman you would logically have to ban these
sports also? No, these sports have specific rules and code of conduct that
are learned and require many years of physical training to master. Toughman
has no rules of conduct for its participants as they are recruited off the
street or from the audience seats to fight.
In all these other
contact sports, the participant have the option of what is calling
tapping-out (giving up) and they are allowed to quit at any time. In
documented cases, Toughman has not allowed its participants to quit or taken
the option out (Detroit News, May 19, 2003). In other combative sports
highly skilled and trained personnel are always present during each match,
each watching out for the safety of the participants. Several referees are
present to ensure the participants do not get into any physical trouble.
Mismatches are rare because there exists a common ranking system.
The primary purpose of
these sports is not to knockout your opponent but to score points. Blows to
the head are limited in these sports and are not the primary way of scoring
points. In Toughman events, only blows to the head are seen. This is due
to the one-minute rounds that encourage the participant to unleash a fury of
blows trained on to the head. The shorter rounds in a Toughman contest lead
to greater incidences of injuries, unlike out-pointing true USA
amateur boxing where the winner is mostly
determined by points. These points are earned by effectively using skillful
punches and not by knockout. Toughman shortened rounds encourage the boxer
to go for the knockout, even the announcer goats the participants with
obnoxious quids. Toughman matches last only three minutes in total compared
to USA Boxing, which last for eight minutes.
Toughman as openly called
for the regulation of its business.
"I wish
everybody would regulate us," Dore said (Detroit News, May 18, 2003). "We're
completely happy to go under a state's rules. It's a funny thing – where
(states) get their little piece of the pie, we're fine. Where they don't,
we're outlaws. Why? It's the same rules, same everything." However, Art
Dore’s comments are not true.
In the event
where Stacy Young was killed Toughman could very well have paid a prize of
$50 and bingo there would be regulations but Art Dore did not do that. Why?
If Toughman had done this, it would have cost more money to ensure the
safety of the participants.
That would include having
all fighters undergo a comprehensive physical before a bout, and having
judges, ring doctors and referees appointed by the state commission. Art
Dore would be required to pay 5 percent the gross receipts to the state,
obtain permits and a state license (St. Petersburg Times, September 26,
2003). Art Dore intentionally did not do this because he did not want the
regulation.
Knowingly Art
Dore’s Toughman has also changed his rules from state to state or fight to
fight when it suits his needs. That is why there were four doctors and
representatives from the Oklahoma Boxing Commission in the September
2003 Ft. Myers event in Florida and not the Florida Boxing
Commission.
Toughman rules are
whatever they want to provide, since in most states there are no state
statutes that regulate these types of combative sports. They have allowed
mismatches, not provided doctors, often changed headgear types, allowed
incompetent referring, and allow illegal blows.
In January 2002, Toughman
held an event at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, which
is owned by the Saginaw Chippewa tribe. At the time, Toughman was under a
cease-and-desist order issued by the state of Michigan. The event still
occurred and Mr. Dore worked as ringside announcer at the event as he
normally does (http://www.totalaction.com/fightpage/ opinion/brady_toughman.asp).
Art Dore said that Michigan order did not apply since they were on Indian
tribal land. "That's a sovereign nation" as Art Dore proceeded to supersede
the will of the people of Michigan. Interpreting his comment, he said to
all those people of Michigan piss off.
Truth:
Art Dore and Toughman want no part of being regulated and has hired lobbyist
to interfere with legislative activities.
The following are strictly opinions and not
presented as fact. Citations are given for your own ability to
come to your own conclusion and to assist you in answering the question for
yourself. Remember you should always question the perspective of what
is being presented. |
