Toughman action a 'rush' for fighters, dangerous to opponents

TACOMA — Cody Hendrix's first attempt at finding boxing success in a Toughman competition lasted just one minute.

But the 18-year-old Lacey resident can't wait to try again, saying he will surely sign up the next time Toughman comes to the area.

"It's just a rush being in the ring," said Hendrix, whose bout Friday was stopped by the referee after one round.

Some state legislators, however, think Hendrix shouldn't get a second chance.

The state Commerce and Trade Committee heard testimony last week on a bill that would outlaw such events. Nine senators are sponsoring the measure (Senate Bill 6103) to ban the contests, where participants — who are often untrained and unconditioned — compete in boxing-like bouts for little or no money.

The bouts consist of three one-minute rounds; fighters take part in up to three bouts a night. Audiences celebrate knockouts, though winners usually are determined by a trio of ringside judges — or after an opponent or official throws in the towel.

If the bill becomes law, promoters of such events would be subject to felony prosecution.

Sen. Karen Keiser D-Des Moines signed onto the bill after being contacted by family members of a Florida woman who died after a fight last June. Keiser became more convinced such events should be outlawed after attending Friday's competition — including the fight Hendrix lost — at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

"It just reconfirmed my suspicions that this is more of a thrill exhibition than a sport," Keiser said. "It just didn't seem to have the elements of a true sporting event, so in my opinion, it doesn't meet the standard that you should have for boxing, amateur or pro, or wrestling or any other sports you put forward."

Participants wear safety equipment, including padded headgear and kidney protectors, but Barry Druxman, president of the International Professional Ring Officials, believes "there could be no safeguards that could make this a safe event."

He said the 16-ounce gloves — promoted as safer than the lighter gloves used by professionals — are worn 20 to 30 times a night, "becoming so filled with sweat, it is like getting hit in the head with a bowling ball."

A Detroit News investigation of Toughman last year reported that 12 people have died since the competitions began in 1979 and five others suffered brain damage, a rate the paper said is quadruple that of organized amateur boxing in that time frame.

But Steve Coppler, the president of Toughman and the announcer at this weekend's events, called it "the safest form of boxing," saying that 47 boxers have died in amateur or pro bouts since 1979.

Toughman promoters purport to follow the safety guidelines of the American Boxing and Athletic Association, a commission created and controlled by Toughman founder Art Dore.

Participants must undergo pre-fight physicals, and are observed by a ringside physician after each bout.

About 15 other states have prohibited or severely restricted "extreme fighting" contests, though promoters frequently find ways to continue operating in spite of state regulations. Earlier this month, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued an emergency ban to block a pair of events next month.

Because participants are unpaid, Washington promoters have touted matchups as amateur nonprofit events, thereby avoiding oversight by boxing commissions and state agencies.

Organizers say money is given to charity — the Tacoma Athletic Commission and the Summit Boxing Club of Tacoma from this weekend's event. But Keiser doesn't really buy the "nonprofit" claim.

"I can't for the life of me figure out where all the money goes," Keiser said, pointing out she paid $20 for her ticket (reserved seats went for as much as $35). "Their claim that they are a nonprofit is absurd, but for that reason, they are allowed to be unregulated, and that is plain wrong."

The committee could vote on the bill this week.

Predictably, the fighters in Tacoma — 46 were signed up to compete — and the fans watching didn't see what all the fuss was about.

"Doing this makes me feel good," said Eric Boose, a former football player at Washington State and Idaho State who took part in his first Toughman competition Friday and hopes it may lead to a boxing career. "Why cut off an opportunity for somebody?"

Toughman competitions began in Bay City, Mich., Dore's hometown. The company bills its competitions as "Golden Gloves for grown-ups" and says they are "designed to give the armchair athlete a chance to test himself or herself in a boxing ring."

Toughman competitions brought relative stardom to several competitors, including Mr. T of the "Rocky" movies and TV's "A-Team," and Bob Sapp, the former University of Washington football player who took part in a Toughman competition before turning to K-1 fighting, a mix of karate, taekwondo, kung fu and kick-boxing.

Sapp, whose picture is on the cover of the press kit that Toughman organizers handed out Friday night, is regarded as one of the most famous Americans in Japan, where K-1 is especially popular. Eric "Butterbean" Esch also began his road to pro-boxing fame in Toughman competitions. Esch attended this weekend's event in Tacoma.

Toughman has been featured on FX and, according to promoters, will have its own "reality TV" series on ABC next fall, with the winner getting $1 million.

Professional fighters are ineligible for Toughman competitions, as is anyone who has had more than five sanctioned amateur wins in the last five years. Fighters undergo brief physical exams before fighting — mostly to check blood pressure and pulse rate, as well as to determine if anyone appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs — and must sign waivers stating that they have trained for the fight for at least 30 days.

Opponents argue that all of those measures are superficial at best.

Dan Rodius, a 36-year-old general contractor from Shelton who has participated in three Toughman contests, disagrees.

"There are so many more violent sports out there. It's kind of dumb," he said of those who want to ban it. "If you lie on the waiver, that's your own fault."

Rodius, who won Friday and said he is 5-1 in Toughman fights, insisted he has never seen anybody seriously injured. The most serious injury Friday night appeared to be a dislocated shoulder suffered by a fighter whose shoulder popped out when he swung hard and missed. There were also several bloody noses.

"If you're in decent shape, you can't really get hurt," Rodius said.

Several referees and promoters who spoke at Wednesday's hearing disagree.

"If this bill is not passed, it's only a matter of time until we have a death in this state," said Brian Halquist, who has promoted pro-boxing events in Washington for 14 years.

David Gamrath, a Bellevue "general and family-practice" doctor who served as ringside physician for this weekend's competition, said he also used to work at local high-school football games and doesn't think Toughman is any more dangerous.

"There are a lot more injuries in high-school football," he said.

The Detroit News investigation, however, revealed that doctors at some Toughman competitions often have little power to stop fights — unlike in the professional ranks — and sometimes aren't qualified. When a boxer died in Kansas City in 1995, the ring physician was a chiropractor.

Opponents also claim that Toughman referees, in contrast to professional refs, aren't trained to put safety first but rather to ensure an exciting fight. Fans booed several times when the referee stopped fights early. At Friday's event, the referee did some things a professional ref would never do. At one point, he raised his hands, palms up, appearing to encourage the crowd to urge two tired fighters to mix it up.

Dr. Antoine Johnson of Aberdeen, a member of American Association of Ringside Physicians, said "the rules in Toughman are not strictly enforced and they have shown that the show must go on."

Opponents also say that fighters are often mismatched, with little care given to make sure each is matched in weight, conditioning and ability. Toughman organizers, however, say bouts are organized by weight and the best attempt is made to ensure a fair fight.

Hendrix estimated half of the fighters Friday night likely would be participating in illegal backyard fights if not for the Toughman competitions.

"It's a lot safer to do it here than on the street, and you're not going to get in trouble for it," he said.

Taylor did have one complaint, however.

"I wish there was some money involved," he said. "We're the ones putting on the show and we had to pay $50 (the required entry fee) to do it."

In fact, tournament winners this weekend got nothing more than a satin jacket, though the winners of the national championship can take home as much as $50,000. Toughman hosts more than 100 competitions in the U.S. each year, Coppler said.

Someone appears to be making money, however.

Beth Sylves, marketing manager for the Tacoma Dome — where five Toughman events have been held — said the competitions have always drawn well at the Dome. About 2,500 were in attendance Friday.

"We sure do sell a lot of beer," she said.

The Detroit News story reported that Dore's nonprofit foundation made just under $1 million for a two-year period ending in 2003. The paper reported that the foundation incurred expenses of more than $820,000, most of it in payments to Adoreable Promotions, Inc., a company Dore founded that is now held in the name of his daughter, Wendy Dore.

"This kind of event exploits impulsiveness and a lot of behaviors I think are worrisome," Keiser said.

Keiser also questions Toughman's claim that it is "family entertainment." Scantily clad ring girls paraded between rounds Friday night, using moves more often seen at strip clubs and drawing hoots and hollers from male fans.

"These things are put together all for the benefit and financial gain of the organizer," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, a co-sponsor of the bill. "Absolutely nothing for those who get in the ring and put their life on the line."

Keiser is proposing a total ban because Dore, she said, has been known to work around the rule, taking his competitions to Indian reservations to escape state laws. Toughman competitions have been held at two casinos in Washington. Other off-reservation sites for Toughman competitions in the state have included Longview, Yakima, Kennewick and Spokane.

"We'll start with a total ban and say this guy doesn't play by the rules," Keiser said. "One of the issues is even if we change the rules, he will find a way around them."

The fighters believe the Toughman bouts should go on.

"The people who are taking about banning this, it doesn't affect any of them," said Boose, who won his fight Friday night. "If I didn't think I was qualified, I wouldn't have been in there. That was fun."

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Allison Peryea: 360-943-9882 or aperyea@seattletimes.com.