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Timothy Hague, seen here during a UFC weigh-in in 2009, died as a result of injuries from a boxing match in June 2017. (Canadian Press/Neil Davidson)
By Josh Hall | @Vancan19
Combative Sports

Provincial commission a possibility following public inquiry report on Alberta boxer’s 2017 death

Mar 6, 2025 | 1:48 PM

A public fatality inquiry recommends the Alberta government take over the commissioning of combative sports events.

The report, which makes 13 other recommendations, was conducted following the 2017 death of Alberta-born boxer Timothy Hague, in Edmonton.

Currently, municipalities or municipal combative sport commissions sanction these types of events.

Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow said Wednesday he received the recommendations last fall, and has been meeting with local commissions and other stakeholders to determine a future path.

“Justice [C.J.] Sharpe recommends the establishment of provincial oversight of combative sport events, with the province obtaining sole authority to sanction such events,” says Schow.

“Together with relevant ministries and Alberta’s combative sport partners, we’re exploring how the Government of Alberta can most effectively be involved in the promotion of best practices, reduction of unnecessary risks and the application of safety measures for combative sport events in our province.”

Schow notes many of the other recommendations have been accepted in principle, but how they get implemented depends on the province’s role going forward.

In was on June 16, 2017 when Hague was knocked unconscious during a boxing match licenced by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission. After two days in hospital, he sadly died.

An inquiry was later recommended, and began in May 2023. Nine witnesses testified, including lawyers, doctors, the referee, and the local commission.

According to testimony in the report, and summarized by Justice Sharpe, Hague was not originally on the June 16 fight card, but had asked to be considered for the fight after another fighter who was on the card was removed for medical reasons.

Hague signed a waiver, waiving all liability against the promoter, the facility, the commission, and civil authorities.

It was on April 7, 2017, just over two months prior, when Hague was involved in a fight on the card for a super boxing (mix of boxing and MMA) event in Lethbridge. Hague lost by TKO and was therefore suspended for two months.

Concerns had then been raised by Hague’s family prior to the June fight with respect to his health and readiness. And to make matters even more complicated, his suspension was from an event that didn’t fall into one of three categories of straight-up boxing, Muay Thai, or MMA; nor was the earlier event sanctioned by Edmonton’s commission.

Other recommendations from Justice Sharpe, who’s with the Alberta Courts in Edmonton, include:

  • consistent suspension periods between different types of combative sports
  • more detailed reasoning to be given for technical knockout (TKO) decisions
  • MRI or CT scan proof from fighters who were TKO’d as a result of blows to the head
  • a single repository with information on all combative sports contestants across the province
  • an independent body to oversee posting of results
  • concussion spotters at every combative sports event
  • mandatory CT scans from every fighter, every six months, regardless of injuries suffered
  • mandatory medical training for referees, every year
  • prevention of a contestant from re-entering the ring if there are any signs of a concussion
  • fight doctors must indicate they’ve reviewed all previous results and suspensions of contestants
  • authority for the provincial athletic committee to stop a fight if it has any concerns
  • mandatory medical suspension between fights, no less than 14 days, regardless of outcome
  • mandatory suspension, no less than 90 days, for any contestant who’s suffered a knockout

Justice Sharpe also received testimony from Patrick Gilday, who heads the B.C. Athletic Commission, established in 2013.

“He is of the opinion that provincial commissions improve fighter safety. Alberta is the only province where the oversight of combative sports is handled by municipalities,” it’s written in the report.

“Both matchmakers and promoters require licenses. In his role, he reviews these applications. He attends all fights and has the authority to stop the fight if he has any concerns.”

In 2017, the City of Red Deer proposed a resolution at the Alberta Municipalities conference in favour of the creation of a provincial commission to sanction combative sports events. The resolution was adopted.

In 2013, the same resolution had been proposed by the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo, and it was adopted then too.

A 2014 statement from Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, stated, “It is more appropriate for municipalities to make this determination at a local level through knowing the community and available resources. The response also indicated that these combative sports events should be guided by rules and standards for each particular sport that are developed and monitored by various provincial, national and international oversight bodies.”

Subsequent government responses to Alberta Municipalities (then AUMA) were provided by the NDP in 2017 and the UCP in 2019, both acknowledging the need for dialogue on the issue.

Currently, there are combative sports commissions in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Cold Lake and Penhold, with bylaws varying.

The inquiry’s final report can be read in full here.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19