Element Fitness Magazine Article, Oct 2010

Mon, October 11, 2010 3:41 pm MDT

In the dressing room, deep in the bowels of the stadium, after the final bell, there is still movement. Various people in the fighter’s camp circulate about. Other people come and go. In the corner of the room there is different movement, precise and exacting, honed by years of training, dedication, and experience. The movement is not one of a fighter bobbing and weaving. It is one of a surgeon moving the needle and suture through tissue to repair the sequele of the night’s contest.

It is here that we find Dr. Jeffrey J. Roth, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon, applying his trade. He is among a few select physicians and surgeons called upon to evaluate and treat fighters. With the procedure done, the fighter is off to the press conference, and will see the doctor again for follow-up and suture removal in a few days. We caught up with Dr. Roth to ask about the role he plays.

Were you always a fight fan before getting involved with fighters?
“Growing up in Las Vegas, I think everyone in town was a fight fan.” ‘It was a magical time of fights in the parking lot at Caesars Palace.” “Anybody who was anybody was at the fight. The rest of the town went fight crazy as well. Even if you could not attend, you were part of the action.” “That being said, it is an honor and privilege for me to be able to contribute, even if just a little bit, to the sport.” “My medical involvement with Bob Arum’s Top Rank boxing started after the Pacquiao/Marquez II fight. It was a terrific battle. The fighters gave it their all, and the decision could have gone either way. I was asked to see Manny Pacquiao, as he sustained a cut over his right eye. We repaired the wound, and since then I’ve been taking my sewing kit to the fights.”

Why stitch up the wound right away?
“The fighters prefer to have the wound addressed as soon as possible. They do not really want to go to the hospital if they can avoid it, and they also want to attend the press conference. After the contest, the fighter is always examined by a Nevada State Athletic Commission, (NSAC) doctor. The NSAC doctors are highly trained professionals. They are in charge. They do a complete evaluation. If they determine that the fighter is OK, and does not need to go to the hospital, only then are my services offered. I have treated boxers and mixed martial arts, (MMA) fighters.”

Are there other doctors that do this?
“There are a few doctors who are consistently called upon. Dr. Frank Ryan, Dr. Gregory Hsu, Dr. David Watson, Dr. Anthony Curreri, Dr. James Carpenter, Dr. Biff McCann before he retired. Dr. Julio Garcia attended to Holyfield after the infamous ear biting incident. I apologize, as I am sure I am missing many doctors who have contributed. Remember, these don’t include the doctors at ringside, in the emergency rooms, and serving on commissions.” “All of us have a great admiration for the sport and the fighters.”

The Wound:
“The press always wants to know how long the cut was, and how many sutures did it take to repair it. We try and close the wound in multiple layers, so as to take tension off the outer surface of the wound. Sometimes it is not a cut that needs attention. (For example; sometimes we need to drain a collection of blood from an ear so as to avoid a “cauliflower ear” deformity.)”

The Future:
“It is my hope that we will continue to see great contests. At the same time I hope that the fighters don’t get injured. If they do, (which is part of the sport), I am happy to be able to help.”

Speaking with the fighters, they do appreciate the service that is provided. Suffice it to say, the fighters hope they don’t need his services, but they are glad that a well-trained, dedicated, Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Roth is around.