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Q&A with Neil Scott: Chief Medical Officer for the British Boxing Board of Control

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB’s Neil Scott (Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck surgeon and Clinical Director Cancer Service) recently travelled to Saudi Arabia and acted as the Chief Medical Officer for the Unified World Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Neil has been a boxing doctor since 2012 and has been the Chief Medical Officer for the British Boxing Board of Control since 2017. His interest began when he started watching boxing from a young age with his father.

How long have you been involved with boxing?

I have been a ringside doctor since 2012, and I have been the British Boxing Board of Control Head Office Lead Medical Advisor since 2017

How did you become a boxing doctor?

I emailed the British Boxing Board of Control in 2012 asking if they had any vacancies. To my surprise they replied saying yes. I then undertook a period of shadowing at events before being signed off as competent.

What does the job involve?

At each professional boxing show, under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control, there will at least be two doctors present (and often more depending on the size of the

tournament) and will include at least one anaesthetist (or other physician with advanced airway skills and currently competent in the management of an unconscious casualty).

There are many important tasks that Medical Officers must complete before, during and after the show and these include pre contest medicals, assessment of injuries at request of the referee mid contest, post contest medicals and treatment of selected injuries at the venue and transfer of Boxers from venue to hospital if required.

How many fights have you covered?

I have covered thousands of contests. Some of the highlights are:

  • Chief Medical Officer at Ring of Fire May 2024). Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Chief Medical Officer at Knockout Chaos (March 2024). Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Chief Medical Officer at Day of Reckoning (Dec 2023). Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Chief Medical Officer at Battle of the Baddest (Oct 2023). Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Medical Officer at 9 World Heavyweight title contests (Joshua-Takam, Joshua-Parker, Joshua-Povetkin, Ruiz-Joshua 2, Joshua-Pulev, Fury-Whyte, Joshua-Usyk 1, Usyk-Joshua 2, Fury-Usyk)
  • Medical Officer at multiple world championship contests in other weight divisions
  • 2022 Scott N, Soni S. Co-author The British Boxing Board of Control Medical Officer’s Handbook. 2nd edition
  • 2020 Scott N, Hughes J, Forbes-Haley C, East C, Holmes S, Wilson E, Ball S, Hammond D, Drake D, Hutchison I, Cobb ARM. Elite and Professional sports facial injuries management - a consensus report. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020
  • 2020 Scott N. Author head injury, concussion and facial lacerations advice card for British Boxing Board of Control. 2nd edition
  • 2020 Scott N. Lead for British Boxing Board of Control COVID-19 Operational Document
  • 2017 Scott N, Soni S. Co-author of The British Boxing Board of Control Medical Officer’s Handbook
  • 2017 Scott N. Author of head injury and facial lacerations advice card for British Boxing Board of Control
  • 2017 Appointed as British Boxing Board of Control Head Office Medical Advisor
  • 2012 Appointed as a Medical Officer to the British Boxing Board of Control

Any advice for anyone thinking about getting involved as a boxing / sports medical doctor?

The two most important questions to ask yourself are: Do you love the sport? Do you want to make it as safe as possible? The financial remuneration is small and must not be a consideration.

How did it feel to cover the Unified World Heavyweight Championship boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk?

It was a fantastic event to be part of, a true privilege and most importantly all the boxers got home safely.

 

04/06/2024