stark reminder about boxing

That was absolutely horrific and I almost wish I hadn't watched it.

I don't know what actually caused his death and we can't rule out that it wasn't strictly speaking caused by the blows he took in the fight. It is not that uncommon for athletes to have heart attacks or just collapse in all sports not just boxing, like Fabrice Muamba, and it may be a little bit too early to start blaming the ref or the Indonesian boxing authorities. Sometimes tragedies just happen that no one can see coming and this mau have been one of those.

It is very difficult to defend morally a sport which is, ultimately, based on violent combat when tragedies like this happen but more often than not there is a mitigating factor which contributes to it. It certainly highlights why all boxers, amateur to pro, champion p4p to journeyman, deserve huge credit and respect for even stepping in the ring, especially when you think that so many of them are paid so little and treated so poorly by "fans" and by promoters and managers.