Time To Ban Boxing?

[Dānu]

I'm reminded of how an eternal life in heaven can be a strong motivator to adopt the Christian viewpoint and lifestyle. When every poor boy in town knows that a career in sports can lead to millions, exactly how much of a free choice is it really? Sports, like the arts, are one of the few readily accessible tickets out of poverty.

[SYZ]

I was gonna originally post this in the "Who's Dead Now?" thread, but then realised that
it had already been derailed by talk of boxing.  I didn't wanna take it further off the tracks,
so decided to post this here...

Good luck getting rid of it. It may not be as popular now with the rise of MMA but it's still a popular fighting sport. The athletes know the risks before they step into the Ring and it still has its fans, so no amount of lecturing on the evils of boxing is going to stop the sport.

Too true.  As a sport, boxing is totally embedded in the Australian psyche, and always has
been.  And our numerous betting agencies make multi-millions of dollars ever year off the
punters.  More than 80% of Australian adults engage in gambling of some kind, which is the
highest rate of gambling in the world.  (I'm one of the 20% who've never gambled—it's a
loser's game.)

This is a video of 24-year-old Dennis Munson during an amateur kickboxing bout in 2014
in Milwaukee. It was his first fight... and his last, as he died hours after this event.

And please be warned, this is pretty brutal to watch, but is stark evidence of the potentially
deadly risks of boxing.



RIP.

[SYZ]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

People forget how Rocky benefitted from being repeatedly struck in the head. He started out being a thug who worked for loan sharks, his gear hanging on the "loser wall". By Rocky 4 he was sharp, clear-minded and quite the businessman.

Obvious other boxers aren't following his example.

Jack Dempsey and George Foreman became successful businessmen after they retired, and Rocky went on to become a highly paid actor and starred in such hit movies as Rambo and The Lords of Flatbush.

And Joe Lewis made it all the way to some kind of sergeant.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

Ever seen a rugby game?

[Mad Hatter]

Another of my favorite all time fighters, Henry Armstrong.  He was the first boxer to hold titles in three different weight divisions, Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight. I'm glad youtube has some good videos of his fights. He was aggressive and brought tons of excitement to his fights. Here's a good video that explains his boxing style and the strategy he used to defeat his opponents.

[Mad Hatter]

People forget how Rocky benefitted from being repeatedly struck in the head. He started out being a thug who worked for loan sharks, his gear hanging on the "loser wall". By Rocky 4 he was sharp, clear-minded and quite the businessman.

Obvious other boxers aren't following his example.

Jack Dempsey and George Foreman became successful businessmen after they retired, and Rocky went on to become a highly paid actor and starred in such hit movies as Rambo and The Lords of Flatbush.

And Joe Lewis made it all the way to some kind of sergeant.

That would be, Joe Louis. He was one of the greatest Heavyweight Champions in boxing history. He had 69 fights, 66 wins, and three losses. 52 of his 66 wins came by way of knockouts. He had lightening fast combinations and could throw a punch from 6 inches away and knockout his opponent. Here's a video of Joe Louis destroying Germany's Max Schmeling in the first round of their second meeting. Schmeling had knocked out Louis in their first fight. In Nazi Germany Schmeling was hailed a hero after that first match up. In their second meeting radios across the U.S. and in Nazi Germany were tuned into the fight. When it was clear that Schmeling was being pummeled by the Brown Bomber the Nazi propaganda machine cut off radio transmissions before the fight ended.  Schmeling, however, was not a member of the Nazi Party and he and Louis became lifelong friends. Here's the second Louis - Schmeling fight. Louis broke Schmeling's back in this one...

[Dancefortwo]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

LOL.  For sure.  I mean, I agree with you, I can't watch a boxing match because it's so brutal.  Here's an article on why Olympic boxing dropped wearing protective headgear.  

https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-bo...r-anymore/


A little philosophic thought here from my nice soft armchair and my female brain:

A man isn't measured by his brawn as much as he used to be. Men don't use their bodies to provide for their family. They don't use farm equipment or a plow or bail hay or wrangle cattle or do and all the other physical requirements it took to stay alive.  The power of the male body isn't that important anymore.  I think boxing reflected the competition and  back breaking work men put into living.    Maybe people were used to seeing mens bodies plummeled by hard work so boxing wasn't so bad.  But today the brain is the measure of the man and that's the very thing being turned into mush.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm reminded of how an eternal life in heaven can be a strong motivator to adopt the Christian viewpoint and lifestyle.  When every poor boy in town knows that a career in sports can lead to millions, exactly how much of a free choice is it really?  Sports, like the arts, are one of the few readily accessible tickets out of poverty.

[Vera]

A little philosophic thought here from my nice soft armchair and my female brain:

A man isn't measured by his brawn as much as he used to be. Men don't use their bodies to provide for their family. They don't use farm equipment or a plow or bail hay or wrangle cattle or do and all the other physical requirements it took to stay alive.  The power of the male body isn't that important anymore.  I think boxing reflected the competition and  back breaking work men put into living.    Maybe people were used to seeing mens bodies plummeled by hard work so boxing wasn't so bad.  But today the brain is the measure of the man and that's the very thing being turned into mush.

As Ingersoll said: "The ages of muscle and miracle - of fists and faith - are passing away." Though he might have been a bit too optimistic...

Also, I literally just came across a post somewhere about how men are not born to try and be sexy, but to die in wars.

Have I mentioned lately that I've lost all hope for humanity (such as it ever was?)...

Oh, and I loathe boxing.


Also, I always wonder whether my memory problems are not, after all, caused by the concussion I had some years ago. I guess I'll never know...

[trdsf]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

I've been following golf for more than 30 years, and the only two in-game injuries I can recall were Tiger messing up his hand getting his ball out from the roots of a tree... and another golfer whose name eludes me who sneezed in mid-backswing and snapped a rib.  Hell, Tiger won the 2008 US Open on a broken leg, but that wasn't an in-game injury.

On the other hand, I've seen a number of spectators get beaned by errant shots -- I've nearly been hit twice, both times by former World #1 players, and both times I was somewhere no pro golfer should have hit their ball.

If anything, golf is more dangerous for the fans than it is for the players.

[Mad Hatter]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

LOL.  For sure.  I mean, I agree with you, I can't watch a boxing match because it's so brutal.  Here's an article on why Olympic boxing dropped wearing protective headgear.  

https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-bo...r-anymore/


A little philosophic thought here from my nice soft armchair and my female brain:

A man isn't measured by his brawn as much as he used to be. Men don't use their bodies to provide for their family. They don't use farm equipment or a plow or bail hay or wrangle cattle or do and all the other physical requirements it took to stay alive.  The power of the male body isn't that important anymore.  I think boxing reflected the competition and  back breaking work men put into living.    Maybe people were used to seeing mens bodies plummeled by hard work so boxing wasn't so bad.  But today the brain is the measure of the man and that's the very thing being turned into mush.

Men should drop the testosterone and their masculine aggressiveness and start following the example of proper and civil behavior of the ladies...



On second thought,....

[Vera]

Sarcasm attempt 1/10.

It must be sad though, having neither brawn nor brains

[Dom]

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head.

BTW,  I don't know of any ballet dancers who've deliberately killed another dancer on stage.     

(Sorry; I just had to say that.)

LOL.  For sure.  I mean, I agree with you, I can't watch a boxing match because it's so brutal.  Here's an article on why Olympic boxing dropped wearing protective headgear.  

https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-bo...r-anymore/


A little philosophic thought here from my nice soft armchair and my female brain:

A man isn't measured by his brawn as much as he used to be. Men don't use their bodies to provide for their family. They don't use farm equipment or a plow or bail hay or wrangle cattle or do and all the other physical requirements it took to stay alive.  The power of the male body isn't that important anymore.  I think boxing reflected the competition and  back breaking work men put into living.    Maybe people were used to seeing mens bodies plummeled by hard work so boxing wasn't so bad.  But today the brain is the measure of the man and that's the very thing being turned into mush.

Men should drop the testosterone and their masculine aggressiveness and start following the example of proper and civil behavior of the ladies...



On second thought,....

Ugh! But the spectators may be worse than the combatants there.

[Mad Hatter]

LOL.  For sure.  I mean, I agree with you, I can't watch a boxing match because it's so brutal.  Here's an article on why Olympic boxing dropped wearing protective headgear.  

https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-bo...r-anymore/


A little philosophic thought here from my nice soft armchair and my female brain:

A man isn't measured by his brawn as much as he used to be. Men don't use their bodies to provide for their family. They don't use farm equipment or a plow or bail hay or wrangle cattle or do and all the other physical requirements it took to stay alive.  The power of the male body isn't that important anymore.  I think boxing reflected the competition and  back breaking work men put into living.    Maybe people were used to seeing mens bodies plummeled by hard work so boxing wasn't so bad.  But today the brain is the measure of the man and that's the very thing being turned into mush.

Men should drop the testosterone and their masculine aggressiveness and start following the example of proper and civil behavior of the ladies...



On second thought,....

Ugh! But the spectators may be worse than the combatants there.

Hey! We spectators resemble that remark! Who doesn't love a good dust up, and some drama to boot?

[Minimalist]

OTOH, nude female mud wrestling has much going for it!

[Dom]

OTOH, nude female mud wrestling has much going for it!

I watched some of that in Vegas once. Even though I sat far away, I got lots of mud on me. 

[Mad Hatter]

This is the earliest filmed boxing match, 1894, Gentleman Jim Corbett vs Peter Courtney. Round one is all that exists of this rare film...



Gentleman Jim Corbett defeated the last of the Bare knuckle Champions, John L. Sullivan, on September 7, 1892 for the Heavyweight Championship. Corbett is also considered to be the father of modern day boxing, and also brought a more "scientific" and strategic approach to the sport.

[jerry mcmasters]

I'll be on the side of "let adults have the info and let them choose for themselves." NFL football players know the risks now and I doubt any of them would trade the money and glory of the present for possible ill effects later. Hell, we all do that anyway at different levels of risk and danger.

[Mad Hatter]

I'll be on the side of "let adults have the info and let them choose for themselves."  NFL football players know the risks now and I doubt any of them would trade the money and glory of the present for possible ill effects later.  Hell, we all do that anyway at different levels of risk and danger.

I was a Roofer for 42 years. The work was very physical. I did slate, shingles, and flatwork. It could be unbearably hot in the Summer as well as unbearably cold in the Winter. The hard work, carrying shingles and slate up ladders, and usually working 2-3 stories high made the occupation risky at best. I saw three of my partners fall off roofs we were working on. One of those guys got messed up pretty bad. It was an occupation we chose and we knew the risks before we climbed on a ladder with an 80 pound bundle of shingles on our shoulders. Aside from the physical aspect of the job it's a highly skilled trade that demands a lot of preplanning and preparation and knowing how to work with metal, laying out roofs, flashing, etc...

[SYZ]

Every sport has its injuries...

I agree, but boxing is the only "sport" where one competitor attempts to physically
disable the other by knocking him out with a concussive blow to the head...

LOL.  For sure.  I mean, I agree with you, I can't watch a boxing match because it's so brutal.  Here's an article on why Olympic boxing dropped wearing protective headgear.  

https://www.wired.com/2016/08/olympic-bo...r-anymore/...

Thanks for that link Dancer.

I'm surprised that none of the so-called experts making comments in that article seem to have
missed another point as to why a helmet may  give a boxer a little more protection from
a concussive head injury, and that's the head/helmet's inherent inertia [the resistance of any physical
object to any change in its velocity, including changes to the object's speed, or direction of motion].  
The helmet provides a little extra mass to the boxer's head [600g or 1lb 4oz] and in doing so
increases its inertia—which in turn decreases the "snapping" motion that bounces the brain around.  
Think of punching a bowling ball (ouch!) versus punching a basketball for example.  

And from that same article:

—Counterintuitively, referees had to stop matches for head injuries
(aka likely concussions) more often when boxers were wearing
headgear, according to the AIBA [International Boxing Association].

Well... duh... of course it was "counterintuitive"!      Because it's a false claim.

The AIBA has claimed that headgear did little to prevent brain injuries, however, there is counter
research that refutes their claim. For example, a study by McIntosh A.S. and Patton D.A. researched
the capability of AIBA-approved headgear to protect against injury. A glove was mounted to a driver
and a Hybrid III head was used to record the head accelerations at different contact points and speeds.
According to this study, head accelerations were significantly reduced by the headgear.

[Minimalist]

On the subject:

https://nypost.com/2021/03/16/hockey-pla...ad-injury/

Russian hockey player Timur Faizutdinov dies at 19 from puck-to-head injury

That must have been one hell of a shot.  Either that, or it was one of those freak things where the puck hit him just below the helmet and ruptured an artery or something.  In any case, helmets are no guarantee.

[adey67]

I was gonna originally post this in the "Who's Dead Now?" thread, but then realised that
it had already been derailed by talk of boxing.  I didn't wanna take it further off the tracks,
so decided to post this here...

Good luck getting rid of it. It may not be as popular now with the rise of MMA but it's still a popular fighting sport. The athletes know the risks before they step into the Ring and it still has its fans, so no amount of lecturing on the evils of boxing is going to stop the sport.

Too true.  As a sport, boxing is totally embedded in the Australian psyche, and always has
been.  And our numerous betting agencies make multi-millions of dollars ever year off the
punters.  More than 80% of Australian adults engage in gambling of some kind, which is the
highest rate of gambling in the world.  (I'm one of the 20% who've never gambled—it's a
loser's game.)

This is a video of 24-year-old Dennis Munson during an amateur kickboxing bout in 2014
in Milwaukee. It was his first fight... and his last, as he died hours after this event.

And please be warned, this is pretty brutal to watch, but is stark evidence of the potentially
deadly risks of boxing.



RIP.

Gambling is a mugs game and highly addictive (hence gamblers anonymous which I read somewhere has seen a massive rise in attendance in recent years) as for boxing I'm torn I love a good match but as someone who has lost two grand parents and a father to dementia and whose mother now has very noticeable symptoms I know just how horrible it is.

[Mad Hatter]

On the subject:

https://nypost.com/2021/03/16/hockey-pla...ad-injury/

Russian hockey player Timur Faizutdinov dies at 19 from puck-to-head injury

That must have been one hell of a shot.  Either that, or it was one of those freak things where the puck hit him just below the helmet and ruptured an artery or something.  In any case, helmets are no guarantee.

Especially if a fighter takes an uppercut to the chin'. There's little to no protection on headgear for the chin area, and that's the prime target for a knockout punch.

[Minimalist]

I think the principal value of boxing headgear is to prevent cuts around the eyes.  Every football and hockey player who develops CTE was wearing a helmet and it didn't help.  I'm not a fan of soccer but I seem to recall reading where youth soccer leagues have banned "heading" the ball as a precaution.