A 19-year-old boxer without a clean HIV test -- who was later found to have the virus that leads to AIDS -- was allowed to fight last month even though state rules should have kept him out of the ring, according to officials and others familiar with the situation.
The HIV-positive boxer, Tommy Perez, of Las Vegas, was knocked out in the third of four scheduled rounds of a super-featherweight match by Guillermo Ruiz, 19, of Coachella. The bout took place June 3 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.
Perez's HIV test was inconclusive, according to Alex Camponovo, the card's matchmaker. To compete, a fighter must present proof of a negative HIV test.
The word "inconclusive" in the HIV category on the medical report was difficult to read, according to a source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is being investigated. The report on Perez's blood work was given to Joe Borrielli, the California Athletic Commission's inspector on site that day, Camponovo said.
"It just slipped through the cracks," Camponovo added. "It slipped through my eyes and slipped through [the commission's] eyes. But there was no foul play involved."
While conceding that proper procedures were not followed, officials with the athletic commission declined to discuss specifics of the case.
"Because of confidentiality concerns for the fighter, we can't comment, though I would like to," said Chris Mears, the commission's chairman. "We take a matter like this extremely seriously."
The matter is being investigation, said Armando Garcia, executive officer of the athletic commission. The fight's referee, Ray Corona, and Perez's opponent, Ruiz, expressed concern about possible infection, though an AIDS expert said the risk is low.
Perez learned that he was HIV-positive from a second test, administered when he returned to Las Vegas to continue training after the fight, said Roberto Diaz, a boxing manager who arranged the Ontario fight. Perez was put on indefinite medical suspension by the commission. "He was devastated," Diaz said. "I told him, 'Somebody obviously dropped the ball in allowing you to fight. But you're young and you're strong. Boxing is not a part of your life now, but you have a bigger fight ahead of you.' "
Alex Paul, Perez's Las Vegas trainer, said in an interview Friday that he drove Perez to a local health clinic nearly a week after the fight for the second test.
