Following
the recent boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, Hall-of-Fame refereeRobert
Byrd came under
fire for what appeared to be a premature stoppage, likely because a wobbly
McGregor, despite taking heavy damage, was still on his feet when the bout was
called.
However, according to former ringside physician Darragh O’Carroll he praised the referee for
putting the brain before the brawn, 'Byrd's calculation to call a stoppage
was likely not based on signs of fatigue, but rather signs of traumatic brain
injury. Ataxia, or dizziness and loss of balance, is one of the hallmarks of
concussion, a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Fatigue may cause sluggish
and slow movements, but does not cause
the imbalance and poor coordination exhibited by McGregor in the 10th round.
Being wobbly, in the setting of pugilistic trauma, will always be treated as
the result of head trauma and not as fatigue. To let a fighter continue on
would be grossly negligent'.
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