Boxing - should it be banned?

Sad news to hear that Scottish boxer Mike Towell has died. Surely it's time this vicious and dangerous 'sport' was banned. Post copied from topic Today! (General Non-Coventry Current Issues) on 7th Oct 2016 8:09 am

Sad news, indeed - but some perspective needed here Boxing fatalities in this country are quite rare, thanks to improved facilities and control Others sports are statistically more dangerous, but there is not the clamour for them to be banned And, of course, boxing gives a focus for many kids in the UK, and around the world, which keeps them out of trouble and on the straight and narrow Nevertheless, it is quite right to mourn the loss of another young life

You're right. Fatalities are indeed rare but I wonder how many boxers suffer some kind of brain damage in later life. Fail to see why a 'sport' where the main objective is to inflict injury and pain on an opponent is allowed to exist.

Wimero, I totally disagree, football is more dangerous, all that kissing and hugging, laying on top of each other, deliberately stamping on ankles, biting etc. The ring is much safer.

Oh come on Kaga you cannot be serious as John McEnroe would say. Kissing, hugging, laying on top of each other dangerous?? Stamping of course is dangerous and can cause serious injuries. But nobody is going to get killed by it! Many boxers have died from repeatedly being punched in the head.

Morning Kaga, I tend to agree with you. Better to fight in the ring than anywhere else. We have a lad in a coma this very minute in hospital, a victim of being 'king hit' for no reason other than being out enjoying himself one evening. Please tell me what enjoyment the thug gets for acting in such a manner. He will no doubt get off with some paltry sentence. Our Danny Green is a strong campaigner against this sort of street violence .

To be serious for a moment. I understand all that "heading" in football can be a problem. Repetitive Heading syndrome? Rugby also has its dangerous moments, repeated concussion is not clever Boxing is a dangerous sport - it is supposed to be the art of "self defence", In the real world I don`t know where that disappeared to. I would guess boxing grew out of prize fighting and I would also hazard what happens in the ring today, bears no comparison with what happened then. That`s not to say its not a savage remnant of a bygone bloodier less civilised age, but I don`t think there would be much public support for a ban and so we might as well save our breath to cool our porridge. PS I appeared in the ring once in my training ship, got beaten in that first contest by the winner of the final - result, have been doolally all my subsequent life.

According to the BBC, in the UK, there have been three deaths of pro boxers from injuries sustained in the ring in the last 21 years It doesn't quantify the number of rounds of pro boxing in that period, but it will undoubtedly have been many, many thousands As I said earlier, a sad loss of a young life, but some perspective required when judging the sport Why thought of abolishing boxing should be resisted PS. In those 21 years there have been over 80 fatalities in TT and GP races on the Isle of Man

I am not qualified to answer this, but there's no question my son would be able to. A couple of weeks ago, he disqualified a local boy, the whole crowd booed and wanted to lynch my son, obviously they had no idea of the rules of boxing. When my son first took up boxing I made sure he knew how to protect his head and know the rules, it was my duty as a father that he should come to no real harm, Not like one mother who jumped in the ring and hit the opponent with her shoe. One famous boxer did more harm to himself with booze than ever he did in the ring. But the physical health to young boys in the gym weighs in enormously.

Other sports don't have the main objective of causing injury to opponents as boxing does. Great emphasis is placed on the amount of knockouts a boxer has achieved.

The object of boxing is NOT to cause injury to the opponent. To suppose it is, as many seem to, shows a complete lack of understanding of the sport. There are far more fatalities in many other sports and activities. I believe horse riding is extremely high on the fatality list but nobody ever suggests banning it. Nor does anyone wish to ban skiing, hang gliding, swimming, cycling or motor sport. I would also say that boxing teaches discipline. An undisciplined boxer will never succeed in the sport. It also channels aggression in a controlled way and has kept many people on the straight and narrow. Many pro boxers have said that not only has it given them a living, it has kept them out of jail. I have to admire anyone who gets into a ring, but nobody was ever forced to do it.

I'm sure MrD will agree that Mrs Kray's boys were an exception to this, though Nevertheless, what MrD says is spot on

What is it then?

The Four Components of Scoring Scoring in professional boxing is subjective in nature. Three ringside judges score bouts based on four factors: Clean punching: "Clean" punches are punches that land on the face/side of the head and the front/side of the torso. Effective aggressiveness: A boxer demonstrates this trait when he consistently and successfully moves forward in a controlled manner. Ringmanship: The judges favour the fighter who controls the pace and style of the bout. Defence: Boxers that skillfully incorporate defensive manoeuvres receive credit in this area. There is no mention of scoring points for causing injury to the opponent.

The referee is in full control, if a doctor is needed, then he calls him in the ring, and he can stop a fight, otherwise the ref stops the fight for any infringement of the rules. These arguments are a waste of time when millions of people abuse their bodies with smoking whilst most boxers look on with disgust. The Kray brothers found boxing too controlled. I believe two of them lost their licence, but although they boxed, it was before they came notorious. I saw them in the ring, and when notorious in a certain night club, the eldest always seemed ill.