As boxing continues to move toward improved matters of health and safety in the 21st century, most venues (commissions, sanctioning bodies, etc.) are demanding blood testing for licensure. At present, most include HIV testing for the AIDs virus and Hepatitis testing—usually Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C antibody. These are measures to prevent passing these infective agents from one boxer to his opponent.

Everyone seems to be concentrating on the HIV. However, it should be noted that since the first reported case of HIV infection in the Western Hemisphere in 1979, there has never been even a single case of infection contracted in boxing or any other athletic event. On a cost-effective basis, because the AID’s virus is only passed by ejaculate or invasive blood transfer, one would not expect that level to change. I would have no problem with one of my sons playing basketball with Magic Johnson or boxing with Tommy Morrison. However, the Hepatitis virus is a much more fastidious organism that can easily be transmitted by the splashing of infected blood.

Concern for Hepatitis B is less than for C, because we have an immunization for Hepatitis A and B that is very available. All frequent travelers should be inoculated, as should all boxers. The immunization given in 3 injections over a six-month period is considered lifelong. However, Hepatitis C remains a dangerous scourge.

The good news is that there is now effective therapy for Hepatitis C. It is a combination of Interferon and Rebetron given anywhere from 6 to 12 months. And the latest literature in the field of infectious disease and that of gastroenterology shows that the patient can actually be cured! This is important for a number of reasons.

1.) Many boxers who are infected may attempt to hide that infection. They may box only in areas where there is no testing for Hepatitis. This increases the possibility of spread of disease.
2.) Boxers may attempt to hide their infection by trying to dodge appropriate testing.
3.) Boxers attempting to hide their own infectability are denying themselves the ability to be appropriately treated.

The new literature, therefore, becomes more important. In directly quoting Dr. Theodore Stein, well-known gastroenterologist in the Los Angeles area, when appropriately treated with Interferon and Rebetron to a curative level, and on demonstrating a negative viral titer and a negative serum DIN, these patients may be considered cured and non-infective. There is no reason why they should not be allowed back in the ring.

This is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, these boxers will still test positive for having been infected with the virus. However, they can no longer transmit it. Thus, they cannot be a threat to their opponents.

Also, since they know that their ability to continue their career need not be terminated, they are more likely to seek out therapy than to attempt to hide their infectious ability. Thus, more boxers would attempt to get early therapy instead of hiding until it is too late for them and they have infected other boxers.

This is an appeal to readdress the Hepatitis requirements for licensure. If the test is positive and the boxer can show he has completed therapy and has a negative viral load and DIN, he could again be licensed.

The thought of more boxers taking early treatment and less worry about appropriate testing seems to be a win-win situation.

Here’s hoping that the appropriate committees of the various commissions and sanctioning bodies address this and make appropriate corrections. The World Boxing Council already has this on the docket for their medical committee and will be addressing this at their Second World Boxing Medical Congress in Acapulco this spring. Let’s follow their lead.