Over recent years white collar boxing events have been a means of raising money for charity, which is laudable, but is it as safe as it could or should be?  

At Anthony Collins we represent the family of a young man who was injured in a charity fundraising white-collar boxing match and tragically died. Dominic Chapman died in April 2022 and less than 12 months later another young person, Jubal Reji Kurian, died in a white-collar boxing match organised by the same company, Ultra White Collar Boxing.  

It may come as a surprise to people to find that white-collar boxing is actually a form of unlicensed boxing. It is not currently overseen by a governing body, whereas professional boxing is overseen by various organisations, including the World Boxing Association, and England Boxing which oversee amateur boxing in England. White-collar boxing falls under neither of these.  

Given boxing is a contact sport that carries serious risks, including life-changing or even fatal injuries, it is surprising that complete amateurs fight in hosted public events after only eight weeks of training, which they may not even have attended in full. The potential, foreseeable injuries include traumatic brain injury, eye injury, facial injuries, hand and wrist fractures, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (a progressive neurodegeneration, which can be triggered by repetitive mild traumatic brain injury and is often associated with boxing).

There are some safety measures expected at events: headguards, boxing gloves, referees and medical staff on hand but without the oversight of a governing body or regulation, the anecdotal evidence is that the presence of a referee and medical staff is not adequate.  After Dominic’s death, significant concerns came to light regarding the measures in place.  Safety issues such as whether the medical staff were as qualified as they should have been and whether the fight should have been stopped are a concern. In other events, there are stories of medical staff asking for fights to stop but being overruled by non-medical staff who allow the fight to continue. It is noteworthy that there are no standardised rules for medical care provision.

The added tragedy is that Dominic and Jubal’s deaths are not the only ones. In 2020 ITV produced an undercover documentary ‘Exposure’, which explored the safety of white collar boxing.

Of course, participants know that boxing is a contact sport and they volunteer to take part.  No doubt many love the experience. But are they given all the information to make an informed decision about taking part? Are they falsely reassured by eight-weeks of training (to my knowledge there is no research that eight-weeks is adequate)? Do they feel under-pressure to go ahead because it is for charity even though they do not feel quite ready or feel out-sized by the opponent they are matched with? Do they trust the referees and medical staff will intervene and be equipped to provide emergency care if something happens?  

The circumstances surrounding Dominic’s death and what could have been done differently still are not clear. Worcestershire Regulatory Services are still investigating and the Inquest has not happened yet, so I won’t hazard a guess at what might come out of that. But it is not too early to say that more could be done to make white-collar boxing events safer, whilst still being an exciting experience for the participants.  

It is hoped later this year the coroner looking at Dominic’s death will make a report to prevent future deaths. As to what that is remains to be seen, however, for now, white-collar boxing remains unlicenced and not overseen by a governing body.