Avoiding Catastrophe: Jai Opetaia’s Knockout Blow Saved By Innovative Boxing Ring Adjustment
The Day of Reckoning boxing event was almost marred by a catastrophic injury. On the undercard, Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia fought and defeated Ellis Zorro, dealing a stunning knockout blow. The fight was over almost as soon as it began, as Opetaia landed a clean hook on Zorro’s chin, knocking him out cold. Zorro lost consciousness on his feet and seemed destined to crash headfirst to the canvas, but he was saved at the last moment. But who – or what – saved him?
The answer may lie with the World Boxing Council, whose president took credit for a crucial innovation in the fight setup. Hold on, how did the WBC come into play? Read on to find out.
The WBC
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Following the fight, footage of the knockout went viral, catching the attention of WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. After witnessing the dramatic knockout, Sulaiman asserted that Zorro was saved by the fourth rope on the edge of the ring. This fourth rope, a recent introduction by the WBC, was a game-changer, adding more safety and security to the ring and its fighters.
Stating the impact of the innovation, Sulaiman said, “Thank God for the 4th rope. It has saved many lives since its institution by the @WBCBoxing. What a great KO win by cruiserweight sensation.”
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Sulaiman’s points are not without merit. The WBC’s introduction of the fourth rope has been a vital step to prevent such injuries, making significant changes in safety standards in boxing. They deliberately made the fourth rope less tight, allowing fighters who fall on it to surrender to the impact without incurring further injury.
In the past, the lower rope was tighter and, whenever there were knockdowns or knockouts, boxers would get severely injured by hitting the back of their necks with it.
The WBC implemented a 4th rope to have the lowest one loose and still prevent boxers to go off the ring. https://t.co/ShofzlPUwp
— World Boxing Council (@WBCBoxing) December 23, 2023
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Looking back, the WBC stated, “In the past, the lower rope was tighter and,
