15.07.06 – From WBC President Jose Sulaiman: On behalf of the World Boxing Council, I give absolute support and commendment to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the implementation of a rule to allow isotonic liquids for boxers during the resting periods..
Fatigue has been reported by the WBC Medical Advisory Board to be one of the most dangerous conditions for boxers, and dehydration causes fatigue. In addition to fatigue, dehydration also causes weakness, slowness of reflexes, less punching power, and slowness of movement around the ring, but what is even worse, it may cause brain dehydration and thus, a brain hemorrhage.
The dehydration of boxers during training and weight reduction, including the making of the official weight, the great physical efforts and even the extreme heat by the TV lighting in the ring cannot be overlooked; if we add the fact that usually most boxers don’t drink water and just wet their mouths in an unexplainable tradition of cornermen, their physical condition deteriorates after each round, during which rehydration is absolutely necessary, and which water alone cannot do. Isotonic drinks do rehydrate and are very important in the later rounds.
Isotonic liquid is not a drug; it is not a stimulant. To the contrary, isotonic drinks, in addition to water, are indeed a very important rehydration element. Safety in boxing is the name of the game, and it is the obligation of boxing institutions to give their very best for safety, just as the NSAC is doing with their new safety rule.
The WBC implemented the use of isotonic drinks in the year 2002 on the recommendation of our WBC Medical Board, and it has been well accepted in the world with many boxers who have voluntarily taken it, and who highly recommend it; rehydration is of extreme importance in boxing, while dehydration is the mortal enemy of boxers and all other athletes.
As a final comment, professional boxing is, without a doubt, one of the most physically demanding sports, even more than the MLB, NFL, NBA, FIFA in soccer, where all athletes use isotonic drinks. So, why not in boxing?
After the fight, the WBC was shocked to learn that a judge stopped this safety rule from taking effect for the Mosley-Vargas match. Boxing might be coming to the end of the road when we take the sport to court for judges to care about legalities instead of the concern and care of saving lives. We should let the courts take care of the law, but no one else but the boxing institutions should care about safety and saving lives, if we don’t want boxing to die within the following 50 years.