Rapid Weight Cutting In Boxing: A Possible Fight Week Danger, Dr. Eric Tetteh Ayertey Cautions
Dr. Eric Tetteh Ayertey, a Ghana-based medical doctor with a special interest in multi-sport athlete health, anti-doping, and event medical governance, has urged boxers and coaches to prioritise safe and structured weight management, warning that drastic weight cutting can put athletes at serious medical risk.
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Ayertey explained that while many boxing teams in Ghana demonstrate discipline and strong preparation standards, occasional unsafe weight-cutting practices highlight the need for sustained education and medical guidance across the sport.
Dr. Ayertey, a BIBA-trained ringside medical professional recognised by the Association of Professional Boxing Commissions (APBC), stressed that one of the most misunderstood issues in combat sports is the assumption that once a fighter makes weight, they are automatically ready to compete.
“A boxer can make weight successfully and still be medically unstable,” he stated.
According to Dr. Ayertey, rapid weight loss is often achieved through dehydration and restricted intake, which can reduce circulating blood volume and disrupt electrolyte balance. These changes may affect temperature regulation, recovery, and even fight-night performance.
He further explained that warning symptoms may include dizziness, cramps, weakness, headache, heat intolerance, and in more severe cases, collapse or acute medical instability.
“The safest approach is gradual, planned weight management. Waiting until a bout is confirmed and then trying to cut weight rapidly can expose the athlete to avoidable risk,” he added.
He referenced a recent incident involving American bantamweight fighter Cameron Smotherman, who collapsed shortly after stepping off the scale at an official weigh-in in Las Vegas. According to him, while not every weigh-in collapse is directly linked to weight cutting, such incidents bring to mind similar fatal consequences that have been confirmed in some cases to be associated with dangerous weight-cutting practices in weight-category sports such as boxing, kickboxing, weightlifting etc
“Weigh-ins are not simply administrative. They also represent a critical medical moment in boxing,” he noted.
Dr. Ayertey emphasised that athlete protection must remain a shared responsibility across boxers, coaches, managers, and event organisers.
Addressing perceptions around strict medical enforcement, Dr. Ayertey acknowledged that insisting on proper medical standards within the boxing fraternity may sometimes be misunderstood.
“Some may see me as overly strict or cautious, but in combat sports, caution is not weakness, it is responsibility. Boxing is high-risk, and even with the best preparation, emergencies can occur. That is why we must never overlook preventable risks or compromise on safety,” he stressed.
Dr. Tetteh Ayertey commended the collective efforts of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Interim Management Committee (IMC), and all stakeholders for their collective efforts and collaboration towards strengthening medical and safety protocols and safe practices within Ghana boxing.
He further stressed that training and talent are important, but boxer medical preparedness and physiological fitness must remain the foundation.
“Safe preparation protects performance, prevents avoidable injury, and strengthens confidence in the sport,” he added.
He concluded by calling for a sustained commitment to education and enhanced medical governance across the Ghanaian sports ecosystem, especially in high-risk sports like boxing.
“Boxing will always be a demanding sport, but unsafe weight cutting should never be the price of competition. With better planning and medical guidance, these risks can be reduced and athletes can perform at their best in a safer environment.”
By Sammy Heywood Okine