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.”