Poll Returns to Ring After Ban Lifted

Jesus Poll, the North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion who failed a mandatory state neurological examination four times during the summer and was banned from boxing in California, will return to the ring Tuesday night after passing a similar exam last month.

Poll, a Venezuelan living in North Hollywood and training at the Ten Goose Boxing Club, will fight Allan Makitoki of Stockton in a scheduled 10-round bout at the Country Club in Reseda. Poll is 17-0-2 while Makitoki is 30-14-1.

Poll has not fought since May 27, when he scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Louie Espinoza in Las Vegas to win the NABF crown.

Ken Gray of the State Athletic Commission said a new, revised exam was administered by Dr. Richard Drew, a neurologist from Sacramento, and that Poll passed that test. His license to box was then reinstated.

“The second exam is more comprehensive than the first,� Gray said. “Our doctor assured us that the new test showed no sign of any brain damage in this fighter.�