Boxing and MMA versus Football: A Pro-Union Editorial and Why
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Reader’s Note: The views expressed are not the views of Real Combat Media.
Recently the National Football League paid 750 million dollars to settle claims by more than 4500 former NFL football players in civil court, saying the league concealed the long-term dangers of concussions and did not properly care for the head injuries that were long an accepted part of the game. The out-of-court settlement ending the lawsuit stipulates it is not to be considered an admission of liability or guilt by the NFL, essentially letting the NFL off the hook.
The precise details of the settlement stipulate it applies to all past NFL players, as well as NFL spouses of those deceased, a group of people totaling more than 20,000, and will cost the league 765 million dollars. The vast majority of the money goes to compensate NFL football retirees with certain neurological ailments. Additional plaintiffs’ attorney fees could cost the NFL well over 100 million dollars. The settlement sets aside 75 million dollars for medical exams, and 10 million dollars for medical research.
What happens to present and future NFL football players incurring head injuries, including dementia from repeated concussions? What happens to football players in college and other professional leagues? What happens to athletes in other sports like boxing? Good question.
In light of the NFL Players Association represents NFL players. The NFL earns 9 billion dollars a year in television revenue, merchandise and endorsements. The NFL has changed its rules in a bid to reduce hits to
the head and neck to protect defenseless players, and now requires neurologists to clear players before returning to games or practice sessions after a concussion. One key rule switch taking effect this season bars ball carriers from using the crown of the helmet to make contact with defenders.
In light of the 750 million dollar pro football settlement, three points have come to life regarding professional boxing:
1. Should there be a worldwide professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts union, established and universally recognized, to represent the interests of professional boxing and MMA athletes.
2. Should the new union be all encompassing, representing spouses, children, trainers, managers, promoters, corner personnel, also referees and boxing officials? Current changes in the law might also require the union, where spouses are concerned, to extend coverage to gay, lesbian and transgender spouses of professional athletes in jurisdictions where such marriages are legal.
3. Should such a boxing and MMA union, once established, initiate lawsuits against athletic commissions and governing bodies which oversee them, on behalf of injured and deceased athletes and their families, to recovery money due to the lack of certain safety protocols similar to the recent NFL player’s lawsuit?
This sports journalist is of the view an international boxing and MMA union should be established at some point in the future. The result will be more so nonfinancial, with significant safety regulations, rules and enforcement at a high level initiated in every state and country where boxing and MMA takes place professionally.
There is a strong argument such a boxing and MMA union should also include health benefits and pension benefits to surviving spouses and children. To the extent non-athletes such as corner personnel and ring officials could be covered is open to discussion but unlikely as they are noncombatants in the sport. More than likely states, countries, and promoters per event would have to pay regular fees to the union over the dues collected to provide the union with sufficient operations revenue. Legislation would likely be required before such financial requirements could take place.
Any lawsuits initiated at this point by professional boxers and Mixed Martial Artists and their families should be more related to safety concerns, and establishment of the unions, rather than directly seeking financial settlements on behalf of deceased and brain injured boxers and MMA athletes.
Boxers such as Muhammad Ali, Gerald McClellan, Terry Norris and the late Greg Page and others have dealt with brain injuries, Parkinson’s syndrome, Dementia pugilistica and other related issues to concussion damage received during athletic competition. The establishment of a boxing and MMA union to protect the interests of the fighters is a necessity which hopefully will come into reality in the near future.
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