Former heavyweight champion Greg Page in Coma
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Although there was a physician at ringside, as is required by Kentucky law, there was no ambulance with paramedics at ringside, or anywhere near the arena. Although most states make manned ambulances mandatory at boxing matches, Kentucky law doesn't require it. The Muhammad Ali Act, legislated by Senator John McCain, had provisions whereby a fighter cannot be tied up in long-term contract by a promoter. But sadly, no medical provisions were included in the law.
If there were a Federal Boxing Commission, the laws in every state would be the same. An ambulance would've been present on the premises and Page's chances for survival would've greatly increased.
Also, most states requite a Cat Scan after a fighter has been knocked out, to determine if he should fight again. Page was stopped in the eighth round by Robert Davis on June 29, two fights before he lost to Crowe. There are no records of Page having a Cat Scan after his loss to Davis.
The fight with Crowe was Page's 75th professional fight. Before that he had 101 amateur fights. Not to mention the thousands of times he was punched in the head sparring in the gym.
The highlight of Page's career came in Sun City, South Africa in 1984 when he won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title with an eighth-round knockout of Gerrie Coetzee. Page lost his title in his first defense in 1985, via a 12-round decision to Tony Tubbs.
Page retired in 1987 after losing a decision to Joe Bugner in Sydney, Australia. He returned two years later and then quit the ring again in 1993. Reports are that he continued fighting because he had squandered away all of the money he had earned in his career.
''I'd like to fight twice a month,'' Page, who did not fight at all in 1994-95, told the Cincinnati Post before the Crowe bout. ''In fact, I've had trouble getting fights because promoters don't want me to knock their young guys off.''
When Page won the WBA title in 1984 he received $500,000. For his fight against Crowe, Page earned a measly $1500. And brain damage to boot. What a damn shame.
