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Former heavyweight champion Greg Page in Coma

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This is the perfect example of why we desperately need a Federal Boxing Commission. Like right now.

43-year old Greg Page, the former WBA heavyweight champion, is in critical condition in Cincinnati's University Hospital after being KO'd in the 10th round by little known Dale Crowe, 24, for the Kentucky State heavyweight title in Erlanger, Kentucky. Even though Crowe would've hardly qualified as a sparring partner for Page when Page was in his prime in the early 1980's, the fight should've never taken place. Page was a mere shadow of what he once was, and in fact, had lost three of his last five fights.

There are conflicting reports to how the ending actually took place. One ringside report said Crowe decked Page with a short left hook. Another said Crowe pushed Page down to the canvas, and Page was injured when his head hit the canvas which was not properly padded. The bottom line is that everyone connected with the Kentucky State Athletic Commission is clamming up, and KAC Chairman Jack Kerns has referred all question to the officials in Frankfort Kentucky, the state capitol.

''I know that I knocked him out,'' Crowe told The Kentucky Post. ''Now there's all these accusations. The bottom line is that I knocked him down with the left hand and he didn't get up. I didn't push him down and that's plain as day on the camera.''

Crowe was angered by reports that Page was too old and out of shape to be taking on a fighter almost half his age. He also felt remorse for Page and his loved ones.

''I feel bad for him,'' Crowe said. ''I thought he fought a very good fight. He was strong and hung in there through the whole fight. He seemed to me to be putting up a good fight.''

The promoter of the bout Terry O'Brien denied there was a problem with the canvas.

"We've been using that ring for 20 years - it's a good ring," O'Brien said. "And actually, his head never hit the floor. He was hit by a short left hand. Then backed against the ropes and then sat straight down, like he was just worn out."

O'Brien basically put the blame on Page's trainers, saying they are the best judge of how much damage Page had absorbed in his last few fights.

James Doolin, Page's trainer and adviser, told the Louisville Courier-Journal Sunday that Page is "battling for his life, so I'm asking everybody to pray for him." He declined further comment "on advice from attorneys."

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