New Delhi: The boxing bout between former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTube sensation Jake Paul on November 15, 2024, at the AT&AT Stadium in Arlington, Texas was a spectacle that garnered millions of viewers’ attention across the globe as reports suggested that 65 million viewers watched on Netflix.
However, something that is compromised in such events is the safety of the pugilists as pointed out by World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst. Though he admitted that his daughter was very much interested into the event, the Dutchman said the event lacked precautionary measures.
“Such fights are nice for newer audiences but the safety of the boxers is a big question. The event I sanctioned in the Netherlands had thicker gloves with head guards in order to guarantee a safe outcome,” van der Vorst told The Indian Express.
The World Boxing body recently received a provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee. The international sports body was founded in 2023 a breakaway faction from the now-defunct International Boxing Association (IBA). Many of the former members of the IBA has now joined World Boxing.
Boxing sparked one of the biggest controversies at the Paris Olympics 2024 with gold medallists in women’s competition were question over gender eligibility. Algeria’s Imane Khelif (Women’s 66kg) and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting (Women’s 57kg) faced backlash and were termed transgenders though the IOC backed their eligibility throughout the event.
Speaking on how the World Boxing will address the gender eligibility issue, van der Vorst said:
“We have recognised for some time now that gender clarity is an extremely complex issue. There are significant welfare concerns and so we have established a working group of our medical committee on developing a policy based on sex, age and weight,” he said.
“Experts from other disciplines, including the Independent Council of Women’s Sport, are developing a policy that will determine the eligibility of boxers to participate in competitions,” he added.
The November 2024 Tyson vs. Paul boxing match, watched by millions, highlighted safety concerns raised by World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
