Manager Decries Brain Tests as Biased After His Boxer Fails

Undefeated Mexican welterweight Yory (Boy) Campos, scheduled to make his California debut in the main event at the Country Club in Reseda tonight, failed two neurological examinations this week and will not be allowed to fight.

Campos, 40-0 with 37 knockouts, is among three finalists for Mexico’s fighter-of-the-year award, to be announced Monday.

Said his manager, Miguel Mayen, after the California Athletic Commission’s decision Friday: “I can’t believe it. This kid has no problems like that. He is a very bright kid.”

Campos, 26, from the remote area of Navojoa, failed the first neurological examination Tuesday, then failed a more thorough one Thursday, the commission said. The written and oral exams, much of which test memory, are designed to discern signs of brain damage. Critics, however, said the test has cultural obstacles.

“This kid is from the country, the farms,” Mayen said. “He has never had such tests. He was so nervous just being in the room with the doctors, he could hardly speak. He is not a dumb kid. He has no brain damage. He just wasn’t able to understand what they wanted him to do. He speaks no English, and the doctor spoke no Spanish.”

An interpreter was present during some, but not all, of the examination, according to Mayen.

Campos was to fight Julian Samaha of Tijuana in the 10-round main event at the Country Club.