U.S. boxer fought despite having a hole in his lung - FightGame Boxing & MMA Forums News & Discussion

**the_godslayer** · 08-11-2008, 12:14 PM

Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
U.S. boxer Javier Molina of Commerce fights back tears after a 14-1 loss to reigning bronze medalist Boris Georgiev of Bulgaria in his light-welterweight bout Sunday.

Javier Molina of Commerce lost a one-sided bout in his Olympic debut. A doctor says the fight should not have taken place

Molina wasn't cleared to fight until 24 hours before his first-round light-welterweight bout Sunday, which ended in a lackluster 14-1 loss to Bulgaria's Boris Georgiev. And according to at least one doctor, it was a fight that never should have taken place.

After it was over, Coach Dan Campbell said Molina went into the bout with what Campbell described as a small hole in the boxer's lung, which allowed air to seep out beneath the skin.

The condition, although not life-threatening, should have kept Molina out of the ring, said Edwin "Flip" Homansky, an emergency room physician and former Nevada State Athletic Commission member who spent more than 20 years as a ringside doctor.

"I would never put someone back into competition with that condition," Homansky said by phone from Nevada.

The condition, which U.S. team physician Bill Kuprevich diagnosed as subcutaneous emphysema, can be caused by trauma as slight as a cough. And, Campbell said, it wasn't detected until Saturday morning, when an EKG and chest X-rays were performed on Molina, who complained of a sore throat and shortness of breath that grew worse after he marched in Friday night's hot and humid opening ceremony.

"It's fairly common," Kuprevich said, adding that Molina improved with medication and was cleared to fight.

However, Homansky, who made it clear he was speaking in general terms and not specifically of Molina, whom he has not examined, said there can be a danger in sending someone into strenuous activity with symptoms similar to the ones Kuprevich described.

"I wouldn't let him go back into competition until I knew what caused it and that it wouldn't happen again," he said. "It would probably be weeks."

Homansky said the increased pressure in the lungs caused by strenuous exercise could make the condition worse. And in such a weakened state, a boxer "wouldn't be able to defend himself."

That is exactly what happened with Molina, who never put up a fight against Georgiev, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist.

"I felt kind of sluggish," the 18-year-old Commerce boxer said after the match. He never mentioned his medical condition.

"I felt too slow. I just wasn't feeling too comfortable. I didn't feel like myself."

Campbell agreed.

"He did the best he could," he said. "I think after the first round it affected him a lot. There was a big difference in Javy tonight."

Campbell said Molina's X-rays showed air bubbles around the boxer's heart and lungs.

But after a series of physical tests Saturday evening, Molina was cleared to make weight.

"He made weight, they did other X-rays, the X-rays showed that a lot of it had dissipated and we felt that he could go," Campbell said.

Molina is the second U.S. boxer in four days to have health-related issues in Beijing.

On Thursday, bantamweight Gary Russell Jr., considered to be a strong contender for a medal, was found unconscious and dehydrated on the floor of his dormitory room after returning from a run, part of a last-ditch effort to make his 119-pound weight limit.

Russell, 20, hasn't fought at 119 pounds since October.

source - - - Javier Molina of Commerce loses opening boxing match at Olympics - Los Angeles Times

**NFFC** · 08-11-2008, 12:19 PM

TBH he shouldn't have fought - not worth the risk.

RMAcero722 · 08-11-2008, 03:20 PM

Holy sh*t! Wow, watching Molina fight I knew that he didn't look very good compared to what I saw of him beforehand, but I didn't know he had a hole in his lung. The guy's only 18, he'll be back.

fightingshape · 08-12-2008, 06:36 AM

your both missing the point,

that coach is so incompetent to put someone into the ring in that condition. if that story is correct id say thats the last time he will be involved with training boxers at that or any level

the U.S boxing team is potentially big business and thats two of their top guys gone cos of his negligence

08-11-2008, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
the_godslayer Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 982	U.S. boxer fought despite having a hole in his lung Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times U.S. boxer Javier Molina of Commerce fights back tears after a 14-1 loss to reigning bronze medalist Boris Georgiev of Bulgaria in his light-welterweight bout Sunday. Javier Molina of Commerce lost a one-sided bout in his Olympic debut. A doctor says the fight should not have taken place Molina wasn't cleared to fight until 24 hours before his first-round light-welterweight bout Sunday, which ended in a lackluster 14-1 loss to Bulgaria's Boris Georgiev. And according to at least one doctor, it was a fight that never should have taken place. After it was over, Coach Dan Campbell said Molina went into the bout with what Campbell described as a small hole in the boxer's lung, which allowed air to seep out beneath the skin. The condition, although not life-threatening, should have kept Molina out of the ring, said Edwin "Flip" Homansky, an emergency room physician and former Nevada State Athletic Commission member who spent more than 20 years as a ringside doctor. "I would never put someone back into competition with that condition," Homansky said by phone from Nevada. The condition, which U.S. team physician Bill Kuprevich diagnosed as subcutaneous emphysema, can be caused by trauma as slight as a cough. And, Campbell said, it wasn't detected until Saturday morning, when an EKG and chest X-rays were performed on Molina, who complained of a sore throat and shortness of breath that grew worse after he marched in Friday night's hot and humid opening ceremony. "It's fairly common," Kuprevich said, adding that Molina improved with medication and was cleared to fight. However, Homansky, who made it clear he was speaking in general terms and not specifically of Molina, whom he has not examined, said there can be a danger in sending someone into strenuous activity with symptoms similar to the ones Kuprevich described. "I wouldn't let him go back into competition until I knew what caused it and that it wouldn't happen again," he said. "It would probably be weeks." Homansky said the increased pressure in the lungs caused by strenuous exercise could make the condition worse. And in such a weakened state, a boxer "wouldn't be able to defend himself." That is exactly what happened with Molina, who never put up a fight against Georgiev, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist. "I felt kind of sluggish," the 18-year-old Commerce boxer said after the match. He never mentioned his medical condition. "I felt too slow. I just wasn't feeling too comfortable. I didn't feel like myself." Campbell agreed. "He did the best he could," he said. "I think after the first round it affected him a lot. There was a big difference in Javy tonight." Campbell said Molina's X-rays showed air bubbles around the boxer's heart and lungs. But after a series of physical tests Saturday evening, Molina was cleared to make weight. "He made weight, they did other X-rays, the X-rays showed that a lot of it had dissipated and we felt that he could go," Campbell said. Molina is the second U.S. boxer in four days to have health-related issues in Beijing. On Thursday, bantamweight Gary Russell Jr., considered to be a strong contender for a medal, was found unconscious and dehydrated on the floor of his dormitory room after returning from a run, part of a last-ditch effort to make his 119-pound weight limit. Russell, 20, hasn't fought at 119 pounds since October. source - - - Javier Molina of Commerce loses opening boxing match at Olympics - Los Angeles Times __________________ Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone

08-11-2008, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
NFFC Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 2,228	Re: U.S. boxer fought despite having a hole in his lung TBH he shouldn't have fought - not worth the risk. __________________ Oscar De la Hoya: Legend ..

08-11-2008, 03:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
RMAcero722 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 467	Re: U.S. boxer fought despite having a hole in his lung Holy sh*t! Wow, watching Molina fight I knew that he didn't look very good compared to what I saw of him beforehand, but I didn't know he had a hole in his lung. The guy's only 18, he'll be back. __________________

08-12-2008, 06:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
fightingshape Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 8	Re: U.S. boxer fought despite having a hole in his lung your both missing the point, that coach is so incompetent to put someone into the ring in that condition. if that story is correct id say thats the last time he will be involved with training boxers at that or any level the U.S boxing team is potentially big business and thats two of their top guys gone cos of his negligence