16 year old dies in fight club match

[John Bishop]

A 16-year old boy collapsed and died after boxing in what authorities called an underground "fight club." Jefferson Pitner died Sunday after fighting at least three rounds in a Palm Desert park, where he had gathered with eleven other boys, authorities said. Pitner, who lived in Indio, died of head injuries at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, said Sgt. Earl Quinata, spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fightclub3oct03,0,286373.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[onephatboydave]

Greetings,

I read this article.  There is a web site called Felony fights.  Alot of the fighters are excons from the bayarea.  Check it out.

[Stan Kristovich]

Very, very sad.

This is a good story to run by the teenagers in your school, if you have any.  We are 'blessed' in that, I don't believe we have any kids who would get involved in something like this (right now).  But I have seen some from other schools, at tournaments, who push point-sparring into close-to-full-contact sparring.  I'm not against young men getting into full-contact sports, but without the guidance of experienced trainers and coaches the risk of serious injury or death grows dramatically.   

This fight club sounds like a bunch of teenagers had hit upon something that might have been a great experience for them, if properly supervised and with adequate precautions--what an experienced boxing coach would have provided.  it's so unfortunate that these teens decided to strike out on their own.  At least by exposing our teens to this story, they will be reminded of the risks.

Regards,
Stan K

[slim]

I think it is a horrible out come for that kid but it was his choice to ebter the fight and that is the price he paid for that decision.  B-ez SLIM