Q: What was the reason for opening the Morganza Spillway in 1973?
-- William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: The Morganza Spillway, or Floodway, on the Mississippi River in central Louisiana was partially operated during 1973 flooding to relieve pressure on the Old River Low Sill Structure, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' website and The New York Times. "Intended to operate during emergency flooding, the purpose of the Morganza Floodway is to divert excess floodwater from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin," according to the corps' website.
Q: How many fighters in the history of boxing have died with their gloves on?
-- Don White, Atlanta
A: It's tough to put an exact number on the number of fighters who have died from injuries suffered in the ring, said Joseph Svinth, an author and researcher who wrote the report "Death under the Spotlight: The Manuel Velasquez Boxing Fatality Collection." Svinth has documented 1,829 deaths "directly associated" with boxing from the 1720s to the present. Svinth said his list includes bare-knuckle fighters, amateurs, Toughman competitors and deaths during training. "I seriously doubt very many boxers died with their gloves on," he told Q&A on the News in an email. "For the past century or so, most of them have died in the dressing room or in the hospital."
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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