Move over Ronda Rousey, TRT, and anything else you can think is controversial or headline making, because we have a new female fighter ready to make headlines. Fallon Fox (2-0) is the first transgender professional mixed martial arts fighter.
Fallon Fox was born a man, and in 2006 decided to undergo gender reassignment surgery along with the supplemental hormonal therapy. The fighter decided to go pro as a female in May of 2012, and her first fight ended by an opponent’s injury in the 1st round. In her second pro fight she knocked out Ericka Newsome at CFA 10 with a knee 39 seconds into the opening round.
Fox is scheduled to fight on April 20th in the semi-finals of CFA’s women’s featherweight tournament. Her participation in that event is currently being held up due to an investigation by Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. “Our department is currently investigating allegations pertaining to the information provided on [Fox's] application,” wrote Sandi Copes Poreda, Director of Communications for the DBPR, which oversees the Florida State Boxing Commission.
Her application in Florida states that she held an MMA combatant’s license issued in California, but reports are that application is still under review. Fox has also admitted that she never disclosed her transgender surgery or any other medical documents because she was never asked for any.
This is a very perplexing and interesting story to say the very least. Society tells us that we are to treat and recognize transgenders as the gender that they recognize with, whether it is male or female. When applying for the license at some point a birth certificate or something that would raise a question of Fox’s birth gender would be requested or seen.
Chief Executive Officer Foster from the California State Athletic Commission said this recently:
“CSAC staff handled this without notifying me of the unusual circumstances,” said Foster. “Because this is the first of its kind situation, this matter should have been referred to me for review under the commission’s medical review panel, which ultimately makes a decision in how to proceed in a case like this. I’m taking appropriate actions to make sure this protocol is followed next time.”
No one has come out and said that Fox should or should not be allowed to fight as a woman against other women. As Officer Foster stated this is something that needs to be investigated though. The fact is men and women are born differently. They have different genetic makeups, and for the most part men can be physically stronger and faster. Being born a man may give Fox an advantage against her fellow female fighters.
So, what do the commissions do? Let her fight? Or only let her fight against other men? All I will say is you may be able to change the cover of the book, but the story inside the book never changes. Fox will always have the genetic makeup of a man. She may be licensed to fight, but whether or not any female will fight her is another question.
kent iemand haar?
Bookmarks