I received a phone call from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League Youth Boxing Program asking if I would help them out and be the fight physician at their upcoming youth boxing tournament.

Their usual physician, a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, had another commitment.  However, he was willing to train me in advance and show me the ropes on the day of the event.

State law and the Boxing Authority require a physician to be at ring side and perform the pre and post fight exams.  I have worked with athletes in contact sports at all levels during my 32 years of medical practice but not boxers. It had been years since I have worked on a sideline so there was a bit of anxiety over wanting to have the skills necessary to help them and make judgments and decisions that would help, not hurt, the participants.

To help me with the project I enlisted my niece, a medical student who had just completed her second year and happens to be a fifth degree black belt in one of the karate disciplines.  We filled out applications and were accepted into the US Olympic program boxing medical team.  To prepare, we researched the evaluation of head trauma in competitive youth sports.

Dr. Allen Fields, a surgeon by training and board member of the Association of Professional Fight Doctors, was on hand to explain our duties and the fine points.  This gentleman, in his mid- seventies, clearly had the trust and respect of all participants. Despite his easy going manner, it was apparent he was current and up to date in his knowledge of the medical aspects of evaluating and treating these athletes.

The Broward Sheriffs had done a remarkable job of transforming a gym into a regulation boxing ring with seating for about 1,000 people. As the fighters marched into the training room, we performed the fight physicals on enthusiastic and polite 8-14 year olds.  It was an opportunity for my niece to examine healthy patients for a change and be exposed to an unusual area of medicine that is certainly not discussed in the four year curriculum.

When the physicals were completed, we were off to ringside where we met numerous champions and Olympic boxing team members who were present to assist in the program. The National Anthem was played and the event began. The referee prepped the first boxers, turned to the judges and timer and then to the fight doctors and asked our permission to begin the match.

At the conclusion of each bout, the participants shook hands and hugged. When the decision was announced it was difficult to distinguish the winner from the other boxer. There were no losers. The sportsmanship and camaraderie instilled in these youngsters by their coaches was apparent.  As they left the ring, we met them at courtside for the post fight checkup followed by a handshake and a hug.

These were high risk disadvantaged children using “Gloves Instead of Guns.”  They were expected to excel in school, be disciplined and play by the rules.   Six hours later the last bout was completed.  All the participants fared well with no injuries and no need for our intervention.  I can not express just how appreciative all the organizers and participants in this event were for my niece and I spending a day with them so their tournament could take place.

It’s a funny thing; I think my niece and I are far richer for the experience and exposure to these wonderful volunteers trying to give these kids an opportunity to succeed in their lives. It was a pleasure to again see the value of a physician in the society working with healthy individuals in a non-traditional role. For as much as we gave, we received much more in return.

Steven Reznick is an internal medicine physician and can be reached at Boca Raton Concierge Doctor.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.