lpinoy
10-09-2010, 07:38 PM
C/P
BY MIKE BRUDENELL
Andre Dirrell's well-being comes before his boxing career, said his co-trainer and uncle, Leon Lawson Jr., on Friday after the Flint fighter withdrew from Showtime's Super Six super-middleweight tournament.
Dirrell, 27, was to have fought Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) on Nov. 27 in the third stage of the tournament to determine the best super middleweight in the world.
But the bout was called off by Showtime on Thursday when it was announced that Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) was suffering from "neurological problems," including pain and headaches, according to his promoter, Gary Shaw.
The trauma, it is thought, could have been the result of Dirrell's fight against King Arthur Abraham at Joe Louis Arena on March 27, when Dirrell slipped to the canvas in the 11th round and Abraham delivered a right to Dirrell's jaw, knocking him out.
Abraham was disqualified for a foul blow, and Dirrell was awarded the fight, which he was leading easily at the time on the judges' scorecards.
"We look out for family," Lawson said. "Abraham's punch did damage, I'm sure of that. Andre could still be comatose and unable to speak. He could have been a vegetable, or act like a 2-year-old. Andre is very disappointed right now, but he is going to rest and get better."
Lawson said he noticed there was "something not quite right" with Dirrell during his recent training sessions in Flint.
"There was a slight change in his daily activities," said Lawson, who trains Dirrell with his father, Leon (Bumper) Lawson. "I suspected something. Some days he wouldn't come to the gym. It was out of character for Andre. He is such a hard trainer. I think he was trying to hide it from us. Something was a little off."
Lawson said Dirrell, a bronze medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics, was under the care of well-known neurosurgeon Dr. Jawad Shah at Flint's Hurley Medical Center.
"Dr. Shah said Andre would have to be three-months-symptom-free before he would ever consider clearing him to start sparring again," Lawson said. "We need Andre to go through a healing process. Let it take its course before we begin thinking of boxing."
Lawson said suggestions that Dirrell withdrew from the fight because Ward was a good friend were ridiculous.
"Fans and fight people might be disappointed the fight is off," Lawson said. "I can understand that. But they need to look at the punch that landed from Abraham. Then they'll understand."
Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission chairman Dr. James Weber, a former ringside doctor, said Friday that the safety of a fighter should always be paramount when dealing with possible head injuries.
"Any fighter who has shown signs of trouble should not absorb any more trauma to the head, be it sparring or a fight, until he or she is cleared," said Weber, who attended the Dirrell-Abraham bout. "Dirrell was clearly concussed following his fight with Abraham."
BY MIKE BRUDENELL
Andre Dirrell's well-being comes before his boxing career, said his co-trainer and uncle, Leon Lawson Jr., on Friday after the Flint fighter withdrew from Showtime's Super Six super-middleweight tournament.
Dirrell, 27, was to have fought Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) on Nov. 27 in the third stage of the tournament to determine the best super middleweight in the world.
But the bout was called off by Showtime on Thursday when it was announced that Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) was suffering from "neurological problems," including pain and headaches, according to his promoter, Gary Shaw.
The trauma, it is thought, could have been the result of Dirrell's fight against King Arthur Abraham at Joe Louis Arena on March 27, when Dirrell slipped to the canvas in the 11th round and Abraham delivered a right to Dirrell's jaw, knocking him out.
Abraham was disqualified for a foul blow, and Dirrell was awarded the fight, which he was leading easily at the time on the judges' scorecards.
"We look out for family," Lawson said. "Abraham's punch did damage, I'm sure of that. Andre could still be comatose and unable to speak. He could have been a vegetable, or act like a 2-year-old. Andre is very disappointed right now, but he is going to rest and get better."
Lawson said he noticed there was "something not quite right" with Dirrell during his recent training sessions in Flint.
"There was a slight change in his daily activities," said Lawson, who trains Dirrell with his father, Leon (Bumper) Lawson. "I suspected something. Some days he wouldn't come to the gym. It was out of character for Andre. He is such a hard trainer. I think he was trying to hide it from us. Something was a little off."
Lawson said Dirrell, a bronze medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics, was under the care of well-known neurosurgeon Dr. Jawad Shah at Flint's Hurley Medical Center.
"Dr. Shah said Andre would have to be three-months-symptom-free before he would ever consider clearing him to start sparring again," Lawson said. "We need Andre to go through a healing process. Let it take its course before we begin thinking of boxing."
Lawson said suggestions that Dirrell withdrew from the fight because Ward was a good friend were ridiculous.
"Fans and fight people might be disappointed the fight is off," Lawson said. "I can understand that. But they need to look at the punch that landed from Abraham. Then they'll understand."
Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission chairman Dr. James Weber, a former ringside doctor, said Friday that the safety of a fighter should always be paramount when dealing with possible head injuries.
"Any fighter who has shown signs of trouble should not absorb any more trauma to the head, be it sparring or a fight, until he or she is cleared," said Weber, who attended the Dirrell-Abraham bout. "Dirrell was clearly concussed following his fight with Abraham."