The Associated Press; 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020 - Thursday, October 2, 1997; 5:22 p.m. EDT

Natasha Altenor of the Massachusetts Boxing Commission said Carl Madison was allowed to fight before the results of a test showing he was HIV positive had been reported.

Altenor said the address Madison provided on his application was false, and the boxing commission had been unable to locate him at either the home or work address listed on his application.

The phone number listed on the application was answered by a woman who said she was Carl Madison's mother.

"A boxer? He's not a boxer," Helen Madison told the Boston Herald. "He's never boxed in his life."

The Herald reported that Carl Madison was tested for HIV by Dr. Emile Jacques on Sept. 18, one day before he was to fight Lawhorn in Braintree. Boxing commissioner Nick Mansiullo apparently misunderstood when Jacques said Madison had "taken care of it in his office the day before."

Jacques meant only that the test had been taken, not that it had was negative. Nonetheless, Madison was allowed to fight.

"This is the first time it's happened to us, and we've got to make sure it don't happen again," boxing commissioner Bill Pender told the paper. "From now on, if they don't have (the medical tests), they ain't fighting, period."

Although doctors and boxing officials, citing confidentiality restrictions, would not confirm that Madison had failed his test, the individual who failed was from out of state, making his professional debut and had no previous HIV test. Madison was the only fighter on the Braintree card who had those characteristics.

Madison's license application stated that he had won 15 of 25 amateur fights. According to the Herald, however, Madison showed no boxing abilities; the fight was stopped in the first round when, for a second time, Madison turned his back to Lawhorn and retreated into a corner.

There was no blood spilled in the brief fight.

Massachusetts established a policy requiring all boxers to be tested for HIV after heavyweight Tommy Morrison tested positive for the virus in 1996.

Lawhorn was making his pro debut after winning three New England Golden Gloves titles. He also participated in the 1996 U.S. Olympic trials.

Copyright 1997/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
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