Boxers turning to CBD for pain relief and healing
In many sports, CBD still has the same status as marijuana and is treated the same as an illegal drug. But, in the wake of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s removal of CBD from its banned substances list, boxers are now able to not only use CBD but to become part of the CBD industry itself. Not surprisingly, CBD companies are happy to build business relationships with boxers and to even sponsor them in the ring.
WADA opens the door to CBD
At the beginning of 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to remove CBD from the banned substances list was put into effect. Though inspired, in part, by MMA fighter Nate Diaz’s decision to vape CBD at a press conference, there were many factors at play in the decision.
At the time, Diaz spoke of CBD’s help in “the healing process and inflammation.” NFL players such as Eugene Monroe revealed that he turned to CBD and other cannabis products to manage pain without prescription medications. And medical research, going back at least to 1998, was showing that CBD and THC could help limit the effects of traumatic brain injury.
CBD and traumatic brain injury
Given that traumatic brain injury is one of the major injuries suffered in boxing, it is no surprise that boxers were also raising their voices in support of both CBD and THC as healing agents. In particular, initial research revealed that CBD and THC can play a role “in limiting neurological damage” from such injuries. And, these substances can also help with additional “neurodegenerative conditions, ‘such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and HIV dementia.’”
One of the most severe forms of traumatic brain injury is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition to which football players and boxers are particularly prone due to the “accumulation of numerous concussions.” While clinical trials have yet to be completed on humans, both football players and boxers have shared individual tales of healing and help from combinations of CBD and THC. But CBD on its own has also been a source of healing according to many athletes.
Boxers embrace CBD
While NFL players still have to wait until retirement for use of such substances, the landmark WADA decision followed by the 2018 Farm Bill has given boxers the opportunity to benefit from CBD. Two boxers that were already advocates for CBD, Teofimo Lopez, and Shannon Briggs, have also benefited from the industry itself.
Teofimo Lopez is a young boxer who went pro in 2016 after winning the Golden Gloves championship in 2015. Lopez says CBD aids in quick recovery during training and after fights. He uses both topical cream and oral CBD oil. Lopez advocates for CBD as one way of reducing the use of opioids. In 2018, Lopez was sponsored by Green Roads, a CBD products company.
Shannon Briggs tried to take things even further. In 2014, after a major loss followed by weight gain, Briggs staged a comeback and points to CBD as a major element in his return. Like Lopez, Briggs viewed CBD as an alternative to opioids and wanted to spread the word. But he decided to go further by starting his own company ChampRX.
Though a product line was expected in 2018, the project did not succeed, though it is unclear why. A joint venture was announced with Corix Bioscience Inc. (OTCMKTS:CXBS) and products may have been released. But the ChampRX domain is now for sale, as is Shannon Briggs own site, and, though Briggs is visible on Twitter, both his boxing and his CBD careers appear to be on hold.
CBD companies sponsoring boxers
If Briggs had returned to the ring, he would have been sponsored by both his own company and by Corix. Though that has yet to occur, another CBD company is now sponsoring multiple champion boxers. Diamond CBD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PotNetwork Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:POTN) is currently increasing its visibility in the ring by supporting the efforts of such boxers as Jessie “El Peligroso” Magdaleno. In March, Magdaleno returned to the ring to beat Rico Ramos and win the NABF Featherweight Title as seen on ESPN.
This was Magdaleno’s first victory since making the move from bantamweight to featherweight in 2018. PotNetwork Holdings CEO Kevin Hagen was understandably thrilled at the victory and pointed out that if CBD is “powerful enough for someone who takes a beating in the ring, then it will work wonders on everyday aches and pains.”
Diamond CBD is also sponsoring Blair “The Flair” Cobbs who recently took the Junior NABF Welterweight title after beating Ferdinand Kerobyan. In addition, Diamond CBD is sponsoring Denver “The Excitement” Cuello who won the Asia Boxing Federation bantamweight title in a bout with Jack Amissa. It sounds like Diamond CBD is building a boxing dynasty!
CBD and boxing: A strong match
CBD and boxing are clearly a strong match and, just as the CBD industry is growing, one can expect its relationship with boxers to grow as well. Given CBD’s ability to help with a variety of health conditions experienced by boxers, more and more fighters will be drawn to its use. And given that CBD companies will continue to battle for more visibility in the market, more of these fighters will be suitably sponsored.
