Edmonton to vote 2/28 on lifting fight ban early
Edmonton’s Community Services Committee voted Wednesday to lift the city’s year-long ban on combative sports events early; City Council is expected to vote 2/28.
Former King of the Cage Canada heavyweight champion Tim Hague earned a 21-13 record in MMA, and dabbled in professional boxing. During a two-year span he went 1-4 in MMA, with all four losses via KO or TKO. Then he returned to boxing, losing the first bout by decision, and the second by KO. He also competed in “Super Boxing” or boxing with 4 oz MMA gloves, in a cage. He got knocked out in Super Boxing, too on April 7, 2017.
On June 16, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Hague boxed Adam Braidwood in an 8-Round contest for the WBU heavyweight championship. He was knocked out in Round 2, and died two days later of injuries suffered in the ring.
The City of Edmonton hired an independent group to report on what happened. In December the City Council heard a report from the group, and stopped combat sports in the city for a year.
Now Dan Grummett and Julia Parrish report for CTV News that the city appears poised to lift the ban early, following a new report from the independent group.
Edmonton’s Community Services Committee voted Wednesday to lift the city’s year-long ban on combative sports events early, and City Council is expected to vote on the recommendation in the coming days.
A third-party review into Hague’s death by accounting firm Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) put forward 18 recommendations to improve fighter safety standards.
City administration and the ECSC are expected to present a report updating progress on nine recommendations to improve fighter safety standards on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
The vote came after City administration and the ECSC presented a report updating progress on nine of those recommendations.
City Council is expected to vote to lift the ban February 28.
Rest in Peace Tim Hague, born May 9, 1983, died June 18, 2017.