Boxing is known to have devastating longterm effects. The condition of beeing punch drunk applies to many former boxers. Even the greatest are not spared from it (Frazier, Toney, Bowe and the list goes on). Boxing can also lead to shocking acute effects like the recent tragic event of Abdusalamov shows. do you think the safety in boxing should be increased? If so, how could this be implemented? Fewer rounds? Referees that stop fights earlier? Furthermore the people around Abdusalamov raised a charity fund to finance the costs of his medical treatment which means in the end thathe put his life on the line and was not even rewarded sufficiently to pay for the recovery of his own health... I'm really not surprised that there aren't that many newcomers in the USA and other western countries. How could this problem be handled to at least ensure the finances to afford necessary medical treatments? Cases like this really makes me question my passion for boxing. Do I really like watching two people beat the crap out of each other while one or both might die in the end? PS: here you can donate something: Send money to Bakanay Abdusalamova Po box 90174 Brooklyn, NY 11209 Or use Pay Pal This content is protected
Interesting topic. I have questioned now and then why I should love boxing. It's kind of a vulgar sport on some levels. What can I say? I love watching a good fight. Anyway... I don't know what can be done to increase the safety without fundamentally changing what the sport is. Many years ago, ideas such as bigger gloves, headgear and other things were suggested for the pro ranks. But really? Amateur boxing already has that. What would be the difference between amateur boxing and pro boxing if the pro's started donning all this safety gear? I haven't seen any firm evidence to suggest that boxing is a safer sport now that fights are limited to 12 rounds instead of 15, either. We watch a bloodsport at the end of the day. This is a hurt business. It's just what it is. As a result, tragedies, however sad they may be, is a statistical reality of the sport.
Well that comes with sport, sad thing is that there is not some fund for injured boxers like Mcclelan and many others, it would be good to have at least 1% of purses going into that fund. So much money in boxing but nothing for injured boxers...
Yep, agreed on the fund. It's always amazed me also that there has never been an enforced pension fund for boxers.
For the well being of our sport its time that all fighters wear mandatory headgear. If you disagree, you don't care enough about boxers. Id like to see Amir Khan vs Mayweather with headgear on.
It's a dangerous sport. Fighters have died from the injuries they receive in the ring. It's something that some of the 'fans' who keep laughing about 'glass jaws' don't seem to understand. When you take constant blows to the head for years (in sparring as well as real fights), the brain damage builds up, even if it doesn't always show itself in an extreme way. Other sports apparently also have issues with this, but boxing is one of the few where attacking the head is actually a target of the sport, and knocking the other guy down gives you extra points. How do they make the sport safer? That's hard to say. They could reduce the amount of rounds in real matches (maybe take it down to 10?) and encourage referees to step in earlier. They could also make sure that professional fighters undergo detailed medical check-ups, before and after fights, although I don't know if they already do that or not. I think they do have some sort of system in place along those lines -- I remember that Pac was banned from fighting for a while after the Marquez KO. They could also encourage less sparring during training camps. Headgear and different gloves are other ideas, although I'm not sure how useful they would really be -- I've seen people claim that neither really help much, but some studies and reports for this stuff would be good.
I read somewhere that headgear reduces linear force impact of blows (I.e jabs & crosses) but has absolutely no benefit for rotational and angular velocities (I.e hooks, upper cuts). Not sure how much safer that makes the wearing of headgear but I'll see if I can find the study and share it here.
Not necessarily true http://www.asbweb.org/conferences/2006/pdfs/242.pdf "both angular and linear acceleration values are decreased when headgear is in place."
Nice Miniq, I'll dig around for the study I read. As with all academic studies I'm sure there will be some conjecture and variation of findings. But it's good to read that someone has found a relation to the reduction of impact with a variety of punches- personally I am not a fan of the decision to remove headgear from amateur competition, not to mention younger fighters will have to contend with accelerated scarring problems before they even hit the pro ranks, the change to the 10 point must system was all that was required to add some excitement to the AMS.
I really think that corners need to take greater responsibility - a fighter in front of a big crowd & bright lights will always want to fight but its up to the corner to assess the fighter & pull him if they deem nescessary.
The danger of boxing is inherent, and theres not much you can do about it without disfiguring the sport into something that its not. Everyone who fights, knows the dangers of boxing, and God forbid anyone ever has to pay the ultimate price, but it is unfortunately a tragedy that happens to its participants from time to time. It is simply an organic component of a hand to hand battle in which you are trying to destroy your opponent by beating them in the head with your fist. I, for one, do not support any changes to the sport. It has been the greatest sport on earth since the first match took place. Gore, brain damage, and death, have always come with the territory.
I think Cooney tried to set up something like that years ago. Fighters aren't exactly known as a selfless bunch so, needless to say, it'll be a tough sell.
One further problem which increases the risk of boxing are the fans and the corner of the respective boxers. if someone quits he's regarded a loser even though quitting can constitute a way of avoiding permanent damage. take a look for example at golota's bout against tyson. Golota wanted to quit against the wil of his corner. he was shouted down by the audience and was pelted at with popcorn and soda cups after he walked out. afte the fight it turned out that Golota had suffered a concussion, a fractured left cheekbone and a herniated disc between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae. the public made him look like a fool that night but at least he remained his longterm health. maybe we as fans should take more responsibility because to a certain extent we create the medial pressure that bears upon the shoulders of the boxers to keep on fighting despite injury. if a fight is hopelessly lost it should be no shame to quit imo!!
