Sarasota County crafting Toughman restrictions

SARASOTA - Sarasota County commissioners on Wednesday began considering an ordinance to regulate amateur fighting competition.

The commission took up the proposal about five weeks after Stacy Young, 30, of Bradenton died after being beaten unconscious June 14 in a Toughman bout at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

If passed after a public hearing and a final reading by the commission, the ordinance would require organizers to get county approval before staging Toughman-like events, require a ringside doctor and make participants agree to pre- and postmatch medical checkups.

The ordinance would also require contestants to be registered seven days before the event to prevent another case like Young's.

The mother of two decided to enter the ring for her first time after watching fights the previous night and responding to a call for women fighters. She wound up being pummeled by a fitter, 20-year-old opponent with boxing experience.

It also would require a county-approved permit for any amateur boxing, kick boxing or mixed martial arts event at venues that charge admission or sell alcohol.

Art Dore, the founder of Toughman events, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune the proposed ordinance would not prevent him from staging future matches in Sarasota.

"I don't see any huge problems with it," Dore said. "Most of that we do already."

Paul Radauskas, a county executive, said no legislation can guarantee a death won't happen again but "this will put into effect a lot of safeguards we don't have now."

Young never regained consciousness and was disconnected from life support at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg several days after the fight.

The Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday ruled that the death was accidental but said the ruling does not preclude someone being charged in the case. Sarasota police are investigating.

Young was the 10th person to die in the 24-year history of the Toughman competitions staged by Dore.

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