Paralyzed Fighter Kirk Calls for Amateur Regulation
Jake Rossen Mar 1, 2010
Zach Kirk experienced only 20 years of an active physical life
before an amateur fight in Iowa resulted in a broken neck and
paralysis. An article in the Des Moines Register updates
his story: while he’s regained some minimal feeling in his
arms, he is not likely to have a happy ending.
Kirk believes it was an unavoidable accident, but what galls supporters is the unregulated scene of states like Iowa, which mandates athletic commission policy only on the professional level. There was no insurance covering the event: Kirk’s massive medical bills were his own responsibility. In Waterloo, 17-year-old Jerod Butts lied about his age and was allowed to get battered by an adult in an unsanctioned amateur event.
There is irony in the idea that a state will intervene in fights between professionals, where skill and technique could mean less risk of catastrophic injury, but leave inexperienced fighters without the resources or protection needed. Kirk’s is a cautionary tale. Is anyone listening?
Kirk believes it was an unavoidable accident, but what galls supporters is the unregulated scene of states like Iowa, which mandates athletic commission policy only on the professional level. There was no insurance covering the event: Kirk’s massive medical bills were his own responsibility. In Waterloo, 17-year-old Jerod Butts lied about his age and was allowed to get battered by an adult in an unsanctioned amateur event.
There is irony in the idea that a state will intervene in fights between professionals, where skill and technique could mean less risk of catastrophic injury, but leave inexperienced fighters without the resources or protection needed. Kirk’s is a cautionary tale. Is anyone listening?
