Boxing is a driving force for development and social inclusion

The topics on expanding awareness, promoting education, and discussing new ideas for constant growth has guided the medical seminar on the fourth and final day of the 99th Convention of the World Boxing Association.

The WBA Academy Director, Dr. Jorge Ramirez began his presentation by emphasizing the WBA Academy purpose of providing educational, formative, and scientific support to the boxing community. This community is composed by people such as coaches who have dedicated many years to boxing, but they haven’t had the possibility to access to the formal education required to progress within this sport: “Physiologists, psychologists, theorists, traumatologists, members of the WBA medical committee, all them are working with us. We are committed to being able to settle this social debt we have with every boxing coach and trainer,” Dr. Ramirez said.

Next, Dr. Nina Radcliff offered an important report on the situation we are currently facing during this COVID-19 pandemic: “We are facing the spread of a very different disease. And everything will depend on how each government handles the situation since it can cause serious problems. There is no treatment to defeat this enemy. Everything depends on everyone doing their part. Our actions are very important, the COVID-19 is not going to disappear, so we must commit to return to boxing and follow very carefully the WBA guidelines to return to the ring.”

Dr. Saul Saucedo provided the current basics of doping within boxing and highlighted the history of such actions in humanity: “For the WBA the athlete’s health is the most important along with the boxing integrity and ethics. Let the fair play prevail. Prevention and education are the primary tools we have to fight doping since we really believe that boxing is a driving force for development and social inclusion.”

Aiming to promote values of progress, Chris Algieri joined the seminar. He also has a degree in Health Sciences from Stony Brook University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the New York Institute of Technology. He added: “If during our career we spend time to eat well and make room for nutrition, we can avoid potential consequences later. The boxers’ health and nutrition are especially important. They are athletes and any sports injury can exacerbate if they do not have a proper nutritional plan.

This is how the medical seminar ended in the 99th Convention. Each forum was focused on the boxing future and progress, as well as the boxing needs.