A hugely controversial boxing event was held in Alexis Argüello Sports Center in Managua, Nicaragua after boxing fighters were sprayed with disinfectant before their bouts and fans forced to sit one meter apart at all times.
Upon arriving at the event, around 800 fans, including children, must have their temperature taken before they are allowed entry into the arena. Despite tickets being handed out for free, only a tenth percent of the stadium was full. Boxers were unable to wear masks while fighting and so organizers took no chances with spraying them head-to-toe in disinfectant before the first bell rang and ring girls and trainers were wearing masks.
Ricardo Alvarez, a boxing promoter, claimed he hosted the fight to help out the boxers. He said, "Nicaragua is a poor country and the boxers have to eat. They can’t stay shut up in their house. Here in Nicaragua there is no quarantine. The government of Nicaragua and the Minister of Health have made a great effort so that the pandemic did not leave a mark on this country. We have been lucky that the cases we have had have been few, and we all need to work, so we are making this effort."
When defending their decision to host the event, government officials in Nicaragua claim they have only had 11 confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak.
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