Boxing equals brain damage
I’ve never understood boxing.
Watching people beating each other to a pulp never made sense to me as a “sport”. Rocky movies? Forget it – I never went near them.
I remember when one of those world boxing championships was on and my colleague just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested in waiting up all night to watch it.
According to this BBC article,
…as boxing involves powerful people hitting each other repeatedly, often around the head, there are other risks – most serious of all being permanent severe brain damage.
While other injuries repair relatively easily, brain tissue, once damaged, remains damaged.
The symptoms of such brain damage – commonly known as being “punch drunk” – include slurred speech, slow reactions and even occasional blackouts.
And you can imagine the effect that repeated damage from long-term boxing has on the brain’s ability to learn.
I’m very happy that:
For the moment [the British Medical Association] continues to lobby for a total ban on boxing for men or women.
I liked this suggestion from Professor Hugh Bayne:
He wrote in the British Medical Journal that doctors could make boxing illegal in the UK simply by withdrawing their support and refusing to attend bouts.
He pointed out medical cover is a legal requirement at all boxing promotions.
Just ban it. Period.
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19 Mar 2007 at 1:07 am Link to this comment
I agree, Zac.
Why do men always have to prove themselves in such primitive ways? I’ve always hated boxing, too. Shouldn’t there be a UN decision on it, or something?
23 Apr 2007 at 12:10 am Link to this comment
I think you people need to get lives, why should it matter what people decide to do? A UN decision, I don’t see why you people care. It does not effect you at all, maybe it’s jealousy because it’s something you could never do or understand, but as the saying goes, “People always fear what they don’t understand”. You don’t like boxing, don’t watch it, simple as that.
Constance, people, not only MEN, people, feel they need to prove themselves in MANY other ways too, such as AMERICAN FOOTBALL (which is FAR more dangerous) and weightlifting.
You people are very narrow minded, all I ask is to think for yourselves and not what (selective) “studies” say. (and the Ali deal) There are far more completely unharmed. Thank you and goodbye.
23 Apr 2007 at 1:00 am Link to this comment
Thanks, Mike for your view. So you would:
* Let people destroy themselves with drugs?
* Let people drive on whatever side of the road they like,
at whatever speed they like, with whatever level of
intoxication they like?
* Let people beat up their kids?
* Let people use guns in whatever way they like to solve
personal problems?
* Sanction rape?
Or would you let them do these things, then not watch because you don’t like it…?
25 Apr 2007 at 1:24 am Link to this comment
Hi Trevor. In each of my examples (which I agree are fairly wild!), I am talking about stopping people destroying themselves and each other.
I also took umbrage at Mike’s request to stop watching if I don’t like it. I don’t like war – but just by turning off the TV doesn’t make it go away or stop.
I agree with your point about homosexuality. But it is very different if you have a high risk person who does not take precautions. Once again, they are destroying themselves and destroying others.
Isn’t that what laws are for?
25 Apr 2007 at 1:02 am Link to this comment
Zac, those are ridiculous examples, boxing involves two individuals who realize and acept the risks of what they are about to engage in. Driving on the same side of the road, beating up kids, using guns, and rape all involve unwilling participants.
The drug example MIGHT stand, but I still don’t think boxing should be banned. I can pull ridiculous examples out too, I mean, if being gay causes increased incidences of AIDS, then why not outlaw homosexuality right?
16 May 2007 at 2:52 pm Link to this comment
What you people dont seem able to grasp is that the only people who are hurt from boxing are people who choose to box, and despite what you self righteous simpletons think we are aware of the risks.
To compare boxing to rape, war and murder where innocent people are hurt by the actions of others is not even a poorly considered arguement , it is an argument that has not been given any consideration.
all this protecting people from themselves is rubbish as long as only the willing participant is hurt its their life and they should be able to live it!
17 May 2007 at 12:58 am Link to this comment
“the only people who are hurt from boxing are people who choose to box”
Really? So if you are brain damaged, that isn’t going to affect your wife? Your children? Your parents? Your co-workers who have to pick up the work slack when you become increasingly dysfunctional? And the rest of us who have to pay higher health insurance premiums because people like you can’t control your primitive urges?
Puleez!
Your argument reminds me of the smokers of earlier days who first denied any harm they were doing to themselves. Then when secondary smoke inhalation was shown to cause damage to those in close proximity (family, friends, co-workers), this was also denied. Smokers still claim their habit only causes damage to themselves, and us “do-gooders” are told to butt out. C’mon people, no man is an island.
18 May 2007 at 7:46 am Link to this comment
Seems to me that Ant’s thinking has already been affected by his boxing…
27 Nov 2007 at 3:50 pm Link to this comment
y boxing is good is cause if u dum [edit] b smart[edit]s n have a go at ppl about boxing u will get [edit] up.
– so ppl shouldn’t ride horses either? think of that amount of backs broken from horse riding. 100’s of times more than brain damage from boxing. why not ban horse riding? cause u soft [edit] like riding your pony’s n [edit] n can’t handle a bit of fear so u try n stop [edit]. ooh n i agree ban being gay cause it is [edit].
27 Nov 2007 at 9:43 pm Link to this comment
Thanks for your comment and enthusiasm, box bra. I edited your unacceptable language.
Where is your evidence that horse riding is more dangerous than boxing? What are you basing this conclusion on? Are you comparing number of rides versus number of boxing matches? Speed of ride? Nature of ride? Length of match?
Box bra is yet another piece of evidence of the deleterious effects of boxing on cognitive function… Apart from the obvious flaws in rational thinking (frontal lobes), the left temporal lobe’s grammar areas have also taken a hit.
25 May 2008 at 8:42 am Link to this comment
“Really? So if you are brain damaged, that isn’t going to affect your wife? Your children? Your parents?”
When I became an atheist it affected my parents, I stopped reading the Bible, stopped going to church, etc… I’m not going to change cause others don’t want me to, and if someone does its not something to be forced by law.
“have to pick up the work slack when you become increasingly dysfunctional?”
That’s and over exaggeration of the risks of amateur boxing (I say amateur cause a professional boxes for a living.) your not going to get an extra chromosome.
A blow to the head is like drinking, smoking, or going to a Lamb Of God concert. They all do damage to our brains, why single out boxing?
9 Jun 2008 at 10:31 pm Link to this comment
I’m not a boxer but I want to say something about this.
There’s a risk that you will get injured if you play a sport. And I mean ANY sport.
So are you saying we should ban all sports and force everyone to just sit at home all day to make sure everyone is safe so that no one will have to “pick up the work slack” because their colleague is becoming “increasing dysfunctional”?
Heck, life itself is risky. You never know when you might get hit by a car you didn’t see when you walk across the road and you never know when you might slip and fall at home alone and suffer permanent brain damage because no one was around to bring you to the hospital.
Does that mean we should lock ourselves up in a room and throw away the key so that we can be safe and our families can be safe?
10 Jun 2008 at 9:15 am Link to this comment
Hi Alex and thanks for your comment.
I agree with you – everything has an element of risk. You have raised some points that I think are very valid – crossing the road (or even more, driving on that road without a safety belt) is dangerous, but often essential for our ultimate survival (we may need to cross the road to buy food to eat).
But that’s different to intentionally involving ourselves in the most dangerous sports, which are usually not essential for survival.
16 Sep 2008 at 12:23 am Link to this comment
Hi guys
Was reading your forum/thread as me and my girlfriend were trying to think of the boxer who was brain damaged by Chris Eubank (oh the irony)
I think both arguements have weight apart from box bra who should be far more worried about his inability to spell the simplest of words (too much boxing me thinks) than he should be about displaying his foul mouthed views on a forum.
Zac i think you feel a bit two passionate about this, whilst people are willing to 100′s and in extreme circumstances 1000′s of pounds for ringside seats boxing will be a popular sport. Given the recent advancement of things like box office and PPV which again generate a lot of money then you will have to live with it.
I think it is a sport of skill and tenancity and admit i like sitting down with a cold one to watch a good fight, not that there at that many at the moment and these people when you listen to them albeit definately aren’t the brightest sparks in the boxes most of them still have enough about them to realise the risk they are taking everytime they step into the ring!!
24 Sep 2008 at 9:25 pm Link to this comment
Yes, Dan – that is the issue, for sure. While people keep paying, the brain damage keeps happening.
Maybe I should create a bumper sticker along those lines…?
24 Sep 2008 at 9:28 pm Link to this comment
Well maybe but it surely is the same as saying to a footballer you cant play because of the risk of injury. I would bet that most boxers love the stage and some of the thearte (probably spelt wrong) that comes with boxing and the fact they all have fit wives doesn’t hurt either!!!
19 Dec 2008 at 10:08 am Link to this comment
i would like to say as an amateur boxer myself, that amateur boxing is safer than most other sports such as rugby. for instance we wear head gear, there will only be 3/4 rounds max, the gloves are thicker and the fights are stopped easy. as for pro boxing yes it can cause brain damage and injuries but every fighter is well aware of the risks and dangers involed. alot of fighters come from poor backrounds with little education so boxing is a way out of poverty/crime for them. i would also like to say that every fighter respects each other as they all know what it is like to step into the ring and fight. boxing also teaches dicipline and will keep you fitt and healthy.
19 Dec 2008 at 10:20 am Link to this comment
Thanks, Joe for your considered – and sensible – answer.
I think you are correct about this: a lot of fighters come from poor backrounds with little education so boxing is a way out of poverty/crime for them., however, I think it is a sad situation.
19 Dec 2008 at 5:39 pm Link to this comment
Yeah that all makes sense Joe. Just think that these people are grown men and to a lesser extent women and they are more than capable of deciding whether this is a career path that they want to take.
27 Dec 2008 at 5:20 pm Link to this comment
So you want to ban boxing
I just did a Google search and I found this article to be an excellent defence of the sport.
[Link no longer available.]
2 Jan 2009 at 2:33 pm Link to this comment
Are you serious? what are you some narcissist who thinks he knows what’s best for humanity?
You simply don’t understand boxing. For people like me who live and breathe it, it’s a passion. I like nothing more than to put on a pair of gloves and go for a friendly bout with a friend.
It’s a great feeling for those who are born to fight. Comparing that to someone beating their kids is asinine.
Apart from boxing I also enjoy composing music, reading, researching and cooking. The reason I say this is to question your likely stereotypical views on boxers.
Now, as far as the medical thing goes. Boxing doesn’t do nearly as much damage as you think. There have been studies done that prove taking a blow to the head doesn’t do much harm. The benefits of boxing much outweigh the rare instances of long-term brain damage.
Lastly, it’s simply human nature. Watching two people fight or kill each other is a very old practice. Take away a boxers right to fight in the ring legally and see what happens. Want a hint? the word “assult” comes up.
10 Feb 2009 at 3:55 am Link to this comment
I agree that boxing should be banned. I had a two-year amateur boxing career, and took thousands of punches to the head during that time. I remember being knocked unconcious a few times, being punched so hard that I saw stars, and having headaches after fighting. I just took the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale test, and the examiner asked me if I had any head injuries because my scores were scattered on the subtests. So apparently I have brain damage. I had an MRI done of my brain about four years ago, but no gross legions were showing. My guess is that I have many microscopic legions and damaged neurons. I developed bipolar disorder at age 24 with no family history of this disorder, and I think that’s an additional clue. Oh well….I just hope things don’t get worse for me! Stay away from boxing. Use your brain in better ways.
10 Feb 2009 at 3:58 am Link to this comment
I think people should be protected from making bad decisions, especially children. I have no problem with the government making decisions to forbid dangerous activity.
10 Feb 2009 at 5:14 pm Link to this comment
Slaughter Steve what happened to you is a very rare example and I cant imagine the worry it must cause you on a daily basis, but for everyone who has suffered what you have there is the Joe Calzaghe or the Flloyd Mayweather’s who have enjoyed glittering careers and get out while they realise they are still at the top of their game. I am only 22 but I remember watching some of Roy Jones Jr fights (when he wasn’t s*it) and thinking how gracefully he moved round the ring and how amateur he made his opponents look.
That is the true entertainment of the sport.
6 Mar 2009 at 9:28 am Link to this comment
I am a boxer myself and i am training hard for my first professional fight. I have always loved boxing and respect anyone who takes it up. The sport of boxing has helped thousands across the world who are from poor backgrounds and it shows them dicipline and they turn their lives around and channel the agression in a positive way. I have just graduated from university and i studied the development of saftey in boxing for my dissertation. From studying this, boxing has the least amaount of deaths and injuries per 1000 participants than any other sport. It is even estimated that every time a soccer player heads the ball he can damage up to 10,000 brain cells. Life is dangerous and we should not be scared of it, we should live each day as if was our last because you never know what is around the corner. The only thing that i can see wrong with boxing and other combar sports is that to acheive you must inflict violence, however you do not use violence as if you hated your opponent in the ring as you have both agreed to be there a use your skills in tough and cotrolled contest.
10 May 2010 at 1:34 am Link to this comment
If you think boxing is bad you don’t even now I mean come on MMA is far worster then boxing. In MMA you can get a blow to the head by a kick, punch, and with a knee.What I’m trying to say is that don’t blame it all on boxing, thiers always a sport worster then the other and you’ll always will have injuries. At the same time why ban a sport when all have a bit of danger to them and the reason people play the sport is because they are aware of the danger that their geting them selfs into.