Ring death avoidable?

Lightflyweight boxer Freddie Gimay hadn’t won in his last 16 fights. His record was a lowly 4-17-2, with a single knockout. Under the circumstances, he seemed like a candidate for retirement.

But Gimay, 32, was cleared to fight a tenner at the municipal gym in Titay, Sibugay–formerly a part of Zamboanga del Sur–last Oct. 27 by a medical team appointed by the Games and Amusements Board’s Northern Mindanao staff. Gimay’s opponent Roger Gadian, 26, was coming off two straight losses although his record was a respectable 18-6-1, with three stoppages. Promoter Roberto Rodrigo guaranteed Gimay a purse of P5,000.

GAB Northern Mindanao officer Ateno Pagidopon, based in Cagayan de Oro, told The Star yesterday that Gimay was pronounced "fit to fight" by Dr. Perlie Sibud, owner of a hospital in Titay.

Pagidopon was at ringside when Gimay battled Gadian at around 3 p.m. Alas, it was a mismatch. In the eighth round, Gadian landed a looping left to the jaw and Gimay’s mouthpiece flew out. A right straight to the face sent Gimay down on his knees for a mandatory eight-count. Gimay got up and referee Filmor Tuastumban, a veteran with over 10 years experience, motioned for him to walk. Dazed and glassy-eyed, Gimay stumbled, prompting Tuastumban to signal a halt. Gimay collapsed in the ring and was rushed unconscious in the town mayor’s pick-up truck to Dr. Sibud’s hospital about 200 meters from the gym.

Doctors considered taking Gimay to Zamboanga City because of Titay’s limited hospital facilities but it was a three to four hour car ride away. Another option was to bring him to Cagayan de Oro. Since he was in a coma, doctors decided to wait for a sign of recovery. No surgery was performed. Gimay never woke up. He died at 5 a.m. the next day.

Pagidopon said the death was "a pure accident." Doctors said cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage.

The three judges scored it a shutout for Gadian. At the end of seven rounds, none of them gave a round to Gimay. Romy Bernaldez saw it 70-67. Gerardo Viernes had it 70-66 and Jovencio Moro, 70-65.

Pagidopon said Gimay, a bachelor from Bukidnon, had no registered manager.

GAB boxing chief Noli Flores called the ring death "an isolated case." It was the first boxing-related death in the country this year. Flores said the GAB sent Gimay’s surviving family a P15,000 doleout from the Boxers Welfare Fund to cover burial expenses last Friday.

GAB chairman Eduardo Villanueva has ordered an investigation of the incident. GAB commissioner Emmanuel Palabrica and lawyer Ricardo Villamil will fly to Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 12 to start the inquiry. GAB assistant Joe Angeles said the investigation could not be started earlier because of previously scheduled hearings in Villamil’s calendar.

Gadian, who turned pro in 1996, is not known as a knockout puncher–he’d stopped only three opponents in 18 wins. In his previous fight last March, he was halted by Eriberto (Yukka) Gejon in two rounds. Before that, he lost to Arman de la Cruz on points.

But against Gimay, Gadian was by far the superior fighter. Gimay was knocked out by Cenon de Ocampo last June and his three-year streak of 16 straight bouts without a win included two draws. At his age and because of his atrocious record, Gimay should’ve been either suspended indefinitely or retired outright even as he was medically cleared to fight Gadian.

Was somebody remiss in his duties for allowing Gimay a boxing license?