Times are tough for 38-year-old combat sports veteran Melvin
Guillard.
According to a release from the Association of Boxing Commissions
on Thursday, the Florida State Athletic Commission has denied
Guillard’s license to compete at BKFC: Knucklemania 2 on Feb. 19.
The event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood,
Fla., was to feature a scrap between Guillard and ex-boxer Ulysses
Diaz, but it has been shut down due to a “serious concern”
regarding Guillard’s health.
“On the surface, the fight might look competitive,” the release
noted, “but after doing due diligence, the Executive Director
Patrick Cunningham found a serious concern with the health of
Melvin
Guillard. In checking the certified ABC record sources, BoxRec
and the MMA Database, it was determined Guillard is suspended and
requires a Neurological Exam, but even if he cleared that Guillard
had lost the past four BKB bouts and had lost nine mixed martial
art [fights] in a row. His last fight was at an unsanctioned event
in the State of Montana which does not have an operating
Commission.”
Guillard is winless in any combat sport, be it MMA or boxing, in
his last 14 outings dating back to 2014. This includes four
appearances under the Bellator MMA banner, a trip to Rizin Fighting Federation to take on Takanori
Gomi and a quartet of unsuccessful encounters under the BKFC
banner. Of those 13 losses and a no contest, eight of those have
been by some form of knockout. While he did initially pick up a win
over David
Rickels in 2016, he failed a post-fight drug test and had the
victory overturned.
ABC head Mike Mazzulli and the ABC itself have come out in the past
to express dissatisfaction with BKFC matchmaking, and the statement
focused on those that shuffle aging, deteriorating fighters back
into lineups against dangerous foes.
“Many of these [aging] competitors have been affiliated with other
MMA organizations and have been subsequently released by these
promotional companies due to many factors including (but not
limited to) loss of skills, consecutive losses, or injuries.
Lastly, many of these fighters have not fought for extended periods
of time. Therefore, the Association of Boxing Commission’s Medical
Committee is especially concerned that athletes competing
’recycling’ may be at higher risks for acute and chronic
injuries.”
Mazzulli expressed relief in the Florida commission scrubbing the
matchup, stating, “We can only hope and pray BKFC will reevaluate
their rosters and make a very entertaining sport safer for all
combatants. If not, the ABC and the member Commissions will be
ready to hold their feet to the fire.”