Call for Haider investigation

Opinions / Analysis

THE boxing commission needs to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ubayed Haider injury.

Haider suffered head trauma following his fight against Runqi Zhou in the Asia Pacific Featherweight title a week Saturday.

He is in an induced coma after going through a surgical procedure at the Aspen Hospital in Lautoka.

The showman filled with pomp and pageantry may not make a comeback to the sport.

But miracles have it.

Good boxer

Haider has been a good boxer whose habits charged up the promotion and his energy hyped up the audience who fell for the show.

As a man of many words, who didn’t shy away on standing his ground and working the crowd has been his trademark.

Haider rose the ranks, beating local and overseas boxers at his own game.

On his way to stardom, he made friends, had a following and foes who routinely looked at his antics.

In boxing, as in other sports, it is perfectly fine for people to hold opinions.

Often the critics educate the public, while the artist has to educate the critic, and Haider did just it.

Worrisome

Haider's lack of in-fight raised the question on his mental status.

Has he been unwell? or hurt in the lead up to the ninth round knockout.

According to reports he had made a mention about hearing loss to his cornerman.

And if that was the case why didn’t his cornerman seek doctor’s advice or arbitrarily throw in the towel.

What is also troubling is that there wasn't an ambulance available to transport him to the hospital following his locker room collapse, he was rushed to Nadi Hospital in a private vehicle.

Team Haider, promoters, trainers and stakeholders need a fine tooth comb investigation on the circumstances surrounding the event.

Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.

Let’s pray that he fully recovers and returns to the sport he loved.