New Zealand boxing promotor now requires MRIs before matches
Earlier this month, fighter Kain Parsons, 37, died from injuries sustained during a charity boxing match in Christchurch, New Zealand. Now, sport promotor Duco Events announced it will require pre-fight MRIs for all of its boxers.
Mandating MRIs will come at a “significant” cost increase from the company’s previous policy which required pre-fight CT scans to ensure its boxer’s health, according to a stuff.co.nz report. Duco Events will absorb that cost, according to Director of the company, David Higgins.
Although Parson’s death was not connected to Duco, Higgins believes MRI’s should become standard in boxing, he said in the report. The policy change also comes as the New Zealand Medical Association called for a country-wide ban on boxing following Parson’s death.
"Having observed recent tragic events in the sport, Duco has now decided to increase the threshold to include a clear MRI scan,” Higgins said in the story. “The advice we have been given is that an MRI scan will be significantly more effective in detecting any issues that may exist, helping to ensure no boxer unwittingly puts themselves at risk of being injured in the ring."
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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.