The City of Edmonton has chosen a company to review a boxing match involving Tim Hague, who died from injuries two days after the event.
READ MORE: ‘Gentle giant’ Tim Hague dies Sunday after Edmonton boxing match
MNP LLP has been picked to conduct the independent review into the June 16 match between Hague and Adam Braidwood at the Shaw Conference Centre. MNP LLP is an accounting, tax and business consulting firm.
The city said the review will “examine the relevant facts pertaining to the boxing match and will identify any recommendations to improve safety at future combative sports events.”
READ MORE: Third-party review to be done on boxing match after Tim Hague dies
The city has previously said the third-party review will include promoters, physicians, referees and inspectors.
The match was sanctioned by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission, which is appointed by city council.
“Given the high importance of this matter, we have taken the time needed to ensure the review process is fair and objective and supports our commitment to improve safety at future combative sports events,” said Rob Smyth, deputy city manager of citizen services.
“It was a long process to make sure we had the right terms of reference and hired the right firm that would be impartial. But again, we owe it to Mr. Hague and his family to ensure that the investigation isn’t rushed but has integrity,” mayor Don Iveson said prior to the announcement of the firm.
“I’m confident based on the process everyone went through, even though it took time, that the firm that’s ultimately selected and will start the work right away will have that integrity and produce fair and impartial results that will help us make changes to combative sports regulation if that’s what’s necessary.”
Hague’s family spoke with Global News last week and expressed frustrations the review was still not underway.
READ MORE: Family of fighter who died after Edmonton boxing match frustrated review still not underway
“It’s just very frustrating because in any other workplace fatality… everything stops and the investigation starts that day,” Jackie Neil told Global News last Friday. “And it’s as if life has just kind of carried on and things have just carried on without us seeing any justice (or) any answers for him.”
Neil said her brother was in excellent physical condition ahead of the match but that he had suffered multiple concussions in previous years.
READ MORE: Family and friends celebrate the life of boxer Tim Hague
“Should he have been in the ring? We don’t know.”
Hague, who was also a teacher and a coach at the UFC Gym in Sherwood Park, was originally from Boyle, Alta. He had a mixed martial arts record of 21-13 and eventually fought in the UFC. In 2016, after 10 years in the octagon professionally, he set his sights on the boxing ring.
The review is expected to be completed in the fall and the recommendations will be released to the public.
-with files from Emily Mertz and Phil Heidenreich
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