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OPEN LETTER TO THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ERNIE FLETCHER AND LOUISVILLE,
KENTUCKY, MAYOR JERRY ABRAMSON
07/11/04
By Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos
Dear Honorable Governor Fletcher and Mayor Abramson:
The Retired Boxers Foundation is a small nonprofit organization founded by
retired professional boxer, Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos for the purpose
of assisting retired professional boxers in the transition from their
glorious days in the ring to a dignified retirement. Part of our mission
is also to educate the public about the sport of boxing and advocating for
safety and integrity in the sport. We have an impressive coalition of
boxing experts, including a Medical Advisory Board with internationally
recognized neurologist, neurosurgeons, neuro-psychiatrists and
neuro-behavorists who assist our organization and the athletes who are now
retired professional boxers.
With all due respect, we feel we must educate the two of you about the
condition of boxing in the State of Kentucky and the fact that your
admonishment of Mike Tyson is looking more like the pot calling the kettle
black. Mike Tyson has made mistakes and he has served his time.
Kentucky, on the other hand, has yet to admit to what many in boxing would
call their own “criminal acts.” Kentucky Champion boxer, Greg Page is
sitting in a wheelchair, completely disabled, because of some faux pas
made by your State Boxing Commission. Some would say that the State of
Kentucky was guilty of complete and utter lack of oversight when Greg
Page, age 42 at the time, fought Dale Crowe, 24, at Peel’s Palace in
Erlanger Kentucky on March 9, 2001.
The following details were widely reported and, even if you were elected
for your first terms, as long-time residents of the State of Kentucky, it
is unfathomable that you might have missed it:
- At Peel's Palace in Erlanger, Kentucky, on March 9, 2001, Greg Page,
42, of Louisville, and Dale Crowe, 24, of Alexandria, Kentucky fought 10
hard rounds before the fight was stopped when Greg Page went down due to
an apparent shove by Dale Crowe
- Page’s head landed on the bottom rope of the ring, while (according
to his wife, Patricia Page) he began foaming around the mouth and was
clearly dazed. He remained there for a full nine minutes while ring
officials stepped over his legs and proceeded to make the ring
announcement declaring Dale Crowe the winner.
- There was no oxygen available at ringside, even though your
regulations require one, and no emergency medical technicians. Even
though there was a stretcher and a blanket, there was no one to carry it
out and no ambulance on sight. One of Page's friends, a Louisville police
detective named Jonathan Bryant, had to go find the ringside physician and
bring him to ringside for Page to receive any kind of attention, a process
that took several minutes. It also took nine minutes for a call to be
placed to the 911 emergency line.
- The doctor - Dr. Manuel Mediodia - was not near the ring when Page
went down, and had to be found elsewhere in the building. Greg Page nearly
died because the ringside physician, Dr. Mediodia, was NOT licensed to
practice medicine in Kentucky and in fact, his license had been suspended
twice in Ohio. He was not trained as a ringside physician and told
reporters he learned what he needed “by reading the USA boxing handbook.”
- Nancy Black, executive director of the Kentucky Athletic Commission,
which regulates boxing in the Commonwealth, said ambulances don't have to
be at fights. This, in spite of the fact that the Muhammad Ali Boxing
Safety Act requires it. Nancy Black admitted that she had never been to
a boxing match and was unfamiliar with what happens ringside.
- Four of seven members of the Kentucky Athletic Commission attended:
Jack Kerns, chairman; Emmitt Igo, Tim Gonterman and Fred Burch, and
obviously, all four of them observed Greg Page go down and remain, head
suspended, on the bottom rope for over twenty minutes before an ambulance
took him away—first to the wrong hospital which was not equipped for
severe head injuries.
- Greg Page suffered in a coma for months due to strokes following the
fight. Page is currently relegated to a wheelchair and is completely
disabled.
- Since there were no insurance provisions required, the Kentucky
commission is taking the position that they have no responsibility
whatsoever for the well-being of Greg Page. Obviously, the State of
Kentucky is going to wait for an impending lawsuit to be settled and then
we hope they can find it in their heart to apologize to Greg Page for
allowing such poor oversight and concern for boxer safety to have changed
Greg’s life forever.
We implore you to read a series of articles that are well researched and
fully documented by Charles Jay, an advocate and friend of the Retired
Boxers Foundation, in a series of articles called “Operation Clean-up.”
All of these articles are posted at the International Brotherhood of
Prizefighters at these links:
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_22.asp
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_23.asp
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_24.asp
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_25.asp
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_26.asp
http://www.ibopboxing.com/boxing-reform-1/op_cleanup_27.asp
In defense of boxing and certainly in defense of Mike Tyson, we feel we
have a moral obligation to inform you of the transgressions that remain in
litigation at the present time. Contrary to what the media focuses on in
defining Mike Tyson, he is a man who has made amends and served his time.
He is trying to make a living in his trade and take care of his family.
If he meets your licensing requirements, it seems absurd for anyone—high
level elected officials included—to make moral judgments on this man’s
worthiness to fight in Kentucky, especially in light of the transgressions
of your State Boxing Commission just a couple of years ago. We will
forgive you (Kentucky) if you will forgive Mike. Greg Page and his family
may not be so willing to let bygones be bygones, but, on the other hand,
they have forgiven Mike and even baked him a birthday cake when he
appeared at the Louisville Press Conference.
Sincerely,
Alex “The Bronx Bomber” Ramos
Founder and President
RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION
3359 Bryan Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93063
http://www.retiredboxers.org
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