European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday. March 17,19b9 the stars and stripes Page 25 commentary army boxers to doctors re. F .-.-. Now that doctors want to Knock out Box ing it s Lime for army fighters to strike Back. Ram they give us All that padding and All those rules and still warn to Lake boxing away. I was shocked when i read they want to ban boning says Mannheim Light Billy travors. Slam to could t believe in. Boxing is no rougher than other sports. Basketball or volleyball will give you Eye injuries. Injuries happen if you Don t Tram we train daily says another. Mannheim Boxer welterweight Adrian Johnson. The doctors Jab at military boxing appeared in last week s journal of the american medical association. The physicians noted that head injuries accounted for 65 percent of All boxing related hospitalizations and 81 percent of boxing related injuries to . Military Academy cad cos. Maj. Robert Enzenauer an Eye doctor Al Fitzi Mons army medical Center in Aurora colo., said in a wire service interview it s inconsistent to train a Soldier to spend Money on him to teach him How 10 Fly a helicopter 10 repair a jeep to drive a Lank an then to have him participate in a sport that could conceivably make him unfit for duty there they go again. Doctors trying to push Box ing out of the ring. Only now they re aiming Hooks at military boxing at the very time army boxing i safer and More successful than Ever. The Day the doctors diagnosis hit the wires the army won its 12th straight armed forces boxing title Al Camp a Picune , two winners came from Usa eur s 1987 title list Marlon Simpkins at Light heavyweight and Rudolph Bradley at will return lowest Germany in Lime for inc Usa eur championships May 4-7 at his duly station Mannheim. Bradley formerly of is stationed at fort Hua Chuca Ariz. If that sounds like i Treur is on Ai boning Roll. It could be because Iti Jil time heavyweight Champi on out of Baut Holder Ray Mercer won the olym Pic Jold in scout and is 2-0 As a pro. Armed with that kind of record the armed forces sports office in t swallowing the doctors Pill. It director Buzz Bennett said from his Washington office that the army has no plans to drop boxing. V corps sports chief Joe Mulligan said of the Doc tors prescription now with the Success of the army boxing team it s hard to believe. Could buy that with professional boxing but with military boxing. Our headgear has improved. The gloves have improved. The danger is in the ring. Maybe it s in ,. The doctors report cited boxing injuries from1980 through 85. Yet since then. Usa eur boxing Bucky Fox has stiffened safely measures. To wit a Boxer stopped because of blows to the head can t Box for a month a Boxer knocked out less than two minutes must sit out three months. When he s out cold two minutes or More he can t return to the ring for is months. There s More. Army boxers must Wear headgear which became thicker in the forehead and ear areas in 1986. Usa eur also enforced bigger gloves that year 14 and 16 ounces for Novice fighters 12 ounces for middleweight on up and 10 ounces for Light Middle weights on Down. Usa eur sports chief Don Claycomb was Happy to report that from october to february the army held 400 bouts in Europe with no one Ingrave danger of permanent Claycomb Points to the Dale of the doctors re search. From 1980 to 85. While i think that a competitive environment for military sports mus necessarily be combative Al least Usa eur and the Usa Amateur boxing federation have taken a number of Steps to make sure the sport is As Safe As possible. Their figures arc nol subject to the safety changes Laken place since 85," Claycomb said maybe the doctors Are confusing military boxing Wilh the Proa who use 8-Ouncc gloves and no head Protection. Mannheim s boxing coach. Bill Ross has no use for the pros they re corrupt. Throw everybody in jail and Start All Over but with his army Boxen Ross puts up a fight Ever time a Guy gels killed in inc eng they Call for a ban. This latest thing is just some Way to get their name in the Ross a military boxing coach since Harry Truman was commander in chief recalls How the death of a Michigan slate tighter in the 1950s dealt a blow to College boxing. But a lot has improved Ross said. Besides the equipment referees wrap Light Protection around army boxers. Said Johnson if the ref has any doubt in his mind that you re Hurt hell Stop it. Even if you Don l think you re Hurt it s Over take inc 1986 Usa eur heavyweight threw his reputation and Little else Al Heil Bronn s Kenneth Alston and referee Milt Filz water who doubles As an s sports director show off at 2 33 of the first round. Filz water was simply afraid Alston would gel hurl. Travors has been fighting for Mannheim Only one year and already he knows he message even if you look All right if you take a Good shot inc ref will Stop the travors wishes thai happened quicker in last year s Usa eur meet in Berlin. In Only his first open bout travors nearly stopped Gellhausen s Chanyl Loving an All army Boer with 12 years of experience. Travers produced i to standing eight counts one on a Knockdown and nearly added a third. Loving survived inc scare to heal travers and went on Lowin inc Light welterweight title. Last year 1 just went out like 30-second drills said Tarvun. "1 punched my Scuri out. This year i m stronger. More travers warns to keep boning no Matler whal the doctors say. It s unfair travors said. In a Post Sullivan Barracks this size you have Only two or three fight ers. Whereas Al least 15 people per company play Flag football. And icy get knee injuries head and hand injuries. They Don t Wear padding and we travers. 22, grew up in Mart Texas and Learned to Box when he hit Mannheim in 1987. His Only boxing injury was a sprained wrist from sparring a couple of weeks ago. He has had no Heidi problems thanks to headgear. It s great Protection he said la keeps you from getting Cut. If you exercise right and move with the punch you Don t even fee when travers a Specia isl in l in a ring he s in a tank or driving the company commander of d co sch in 77th Armor 3rd brigade 8th in div that commander is Cape. Mark ,1 who said of travers the Bollom Tine is when the tanks Roll he goes with us and inc boxing gloves stay boxing injuries i be seen More injuries from Flag of Elba a ankle injuries Knees Ihan edgr unsaid. X ". The company s executive officer. I Silt. Walter Miller said he never saw a Soldier mint duly because of boxing bruises. He did Sec tracers As the Only one in this company who could run me into the ground. He s a stud. Very physically j maybe that s because Billy travers is a Boxer. He wants to slay that Way boxing is taught Ai the academies. It s a tradition in the army. Why take away tradition no one is pushed into the journal of the american medical association needs a second opinion keep military boxing off inc ropes. Russellh los army sink Navy compiled by Tim Boivin a staff writer basketball Wiesbaden s Troy Russell was one of seven players in double figures As army upset Navy and David Robinson 110-94 wednesday in the semifinal of the men s armed forces championships at the Presidio of san Francisco. Russell had 15 Points to go with 18 Points from Waller Golden and 17 by Earl Warren. Navy was led by Robinson with 24 Points ii rebounds and three blocked shots. Army 2-0, opened by beating the marines 125-84 tuesday while Navy lopped air Force 99-78, Russell had 16 Points in inc army Triumph Over the Marin Sand Spang Uhlem s Wallace Northcut added air Force eliminated inc marines from in medal round Wilh a 124-90 Victory wednesday keep ing in Hopes alive in the losers bracket. The air Force was to play Navy thursday to decide which team was to meet army in the final later thai Day. Wrestling Wilra Burg s David Schu incr Ber Lin Wolf and James demos have been selected for the National wrestling trials Aprilli last Topeka Kan. 1 Ower lifting Bambera s James Bornhop lifted his Way to a Gold medal in the 2-12-Pound class Al the armed forces championships isl month while Nord deutschland s Michael Hancock took a Silver at 165 pounds. Bornhop and Hancock helped army set a record for icam Points Al the championships held at Long Beach naval Sinuon Calif. Army finished Wilh 46 Points. Air Force was second with v to a l wit Points the marines third with 25 local Roundup and Navy fourth with 15 softball Usa eur will hold its officials clinic tuesday through Friday at the the Thompkin Barracks recreation Center i n Heidelberg. David Epperson a member of the Amateur softball association National Umpire staff will be the guest instructor. Epperson is a member of inc National Asa uni Pirc school instructional staff and holds an International Umpire certification. Regis ration for the clinic is from 7 30-9 . Tues Day there is a s25 fee. For More information Call ets 379-7818/6007. Baseball the numb re pirates of the Ger Man american league will hold a players meeting today Al the William o. Darby Barracks gym at 6 . Anyone interested in playing May attend. Frankfurt s giants will have their first practice at the Drake Edwards baseball Field at 2 . Sunday the Mannheim Amigos will hold their first tryouts sunday at 2 . At inc Benjamin Franklin Village baseball Field. The Darm Slade comets will hold their try quis at the same Lime at memory Field by Killcy Barracks. A German american league meeting will be held sunday at Barracks officers club in heir Bronn beginning at noon Golf the Heidelberg women s Golf association will hold its tee off Coffee wednesday at i . At the Heidelberg Golf course in ofter Shim. For More information Contact Ann Hansen Al 06202-53767 or ets 379-61m. Bis. Lyndly spun Wiesbaden s Troy rus a
