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Boxing Should Be Banned

Should boxing be banned?

All the Yes points:

  1. Boxing is a very dangerous sport. Every year both amateur and professional boxers die in matches.
  2. Boxing is unlike any other sport. The aim of boxing is to hurt the other man.
  3. Boxing exploits young men (and sometimes women now).
  4. Boxing has to have stricter rules than other sports because it is so much more dangerous.
  5. Boxing makes violence look cool.
  6. There is no reason to think that if boxing was banned it would continue “underground”.
  7. The British Medical Association has repeatedly called for a ban on boxing
  8. As a first step, professional boxing at least should be banned.

All the No points:

Boxing is a very dangerous sport. Every year both amateur and professional boxers die in matches.

Yes because…

Boxing is a very dangerous sport. Every year both amateur and professional boxers die in matches, or afterwards as a result of injuries. Others, such as Michael Watson, are disabled for life as a result of beatings in the ring. Medical studies also show that boxing can lead to long-term brain-damage, and to illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease. For these reasons all the major medical associations call for an end to boxing. Banning boxing would mean an end to needless deaths, injuries and brain-damage.

No because…

Boxers know the risks of their sport and choose freely to fight. They are also well-paid for the dangers of fighting. We have to allow people to make their own decisions in life. The government should not ban something adults choose to do unless it clearly affects other people. In boxing, it is the boxer who takes the risk and who will pay the price, no one else. Other sports are also dangerous, for example horse-riding, skiing or parachuting – should we ban those too?

Boxing is unlike any other sport. The aim of boxing is to hurt the other man.

Yes because…

Boxing is unlike any other sport. The aim of boxing is to hurt the other man, and above all to knock him out. The sport appeals to the worst and most violent parts of human nature. Such a savage sport has no place in modern society. We should not let men do this to each other. We should not offer money to encourage them to fight. We should also ban it as a form of public entertainment.

No because…

With running, boxing is the purest form of sport. All sport is about testing the human body and reactions against others. Boxing does this in the most simple and direct way possible. There is no point trying to deny our human nature – man is an aggressive animal and sports provide a safe outlet for that aggression. Contact sports such as rugby, American Football or Ice Hockey can also be brutal. Society was much less violent sixty or seventy years ago when children were often taught to box at school. That way they learned to control their aggression and to keep violence for the ring.

Boxing exploits young men (and sometimes women now).

Yes because…

Boxing exploits young men (and sometimes women now). Some start before the age of ten. They often don’t have enough education to make a proper decision about the risks of their sport even once they are adults. They train hard for long hours, trusting a coach to prepare their body and a manager to arrange fights and handle money. Often those around the boxer do very well at his (or her) expense. This gives them a reason to make the fighter take more fights, even if that would be dangerous. Even successful champions (e.g. Mike Tyson) often end up broke and desperate.

No because…

Some boxers have been exploited, and that is wrong. And some have “wasted” their money on high-living – just like rock stars or footballers do. Should the government stop them spending their own money as they wish? Many boxers do handle their money and other affairs sensibly, for example, Evander Holyfield, or Lennox Lewis. More important is the way boxing offers a way out of poverty for working class boys. There isn’t much hope in the inner cities. Isn’t it better for children to want to be boxers when they grow up than drug dealers and gangsters?

Boxing has to have stricter rules than other sports because it is so much more dangerous.

Yes because…

Boxing has to have stricter rules than other sports because it is so much more dangerous. Injuries happen in other sports but they are accidental. In boxing the injuries are the point of the sport and they are much more serious. In spite of all the regulations, deaths and serious injuries take place every year in boxing. And they happen in amateur fights as well as professional ones, so headguards seem to make little difference. Clearly it is not possible to control boxing well enough so that it is safe. The only way to make boxing safe is to ban it.

No because…

Those in charge of boxing work hard to make sure that it is as safe as possible. Both professional and amateur fights are run under very strict rules to make the risks as small as possible. Medical staff and equipment have to be on hand, and boxers are checked before fights to make sure they are fit enough to take part. Having different weight divisions (Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight, etc.) means that fights should not be too unequal. Referees are there to stop fights if necessary. Amateur fighters wear headguards and aim to score points rather than knockouts. No other sport takes such care with its athletes.

Boxing makes violence look cool.

Yes because…

Boxing makes violence look cool. The money and fame a few champion boxers get for hitting people sends the wrong message to young people. It isn’t just the fights themselves which are the problem. Fighting often breaks out at publicity events, or even in the audience.

No because…

Boxing isn’t just about a few minutes of violent activity. It is also about thousands of hours of hard training and self-discipline – that’s not a bad message to send to young people. Sports such as pro-wrestling, where violence is staged like a show are much more dangerous. At least in boxing it is obvious that getting hit hurts and does lasting damage. In any case, most boxing is on television too late at night to have much effect on young children.

There is no reason to think that if boxing was banned it would continue “underground”.

Yes because…

There is no reason to think that if boxing was banned it would continue “underground”. Cockfighting and badger baiting were banned and they are almost unheard of. If caught, those breaking the law by organising or watching a boxing match could be punished severely. This will scare off others from trying to stage fights in future. Without television coverage there will be no money left in boxing. It is not as if boxers have nothing else to do. With their athletic talents they could make it in other sports instead.

No because…

Making boxing illegal would just drive it “underground”. It would still go on, in remote barns and cellars, because men would still want to fight and others would still be prepared to pay to see them. Banning drugs or underage drinking hasn’t stopped people from doing those things. Once boxing is underground, it cannot be regulated and fights will become much more dangerous. Bare fists may be used rather than gloves, fights may go on until one boxer is knocked out, and there will be no medical support when injuries do come about. Boxing is much safer when it is legal but regulated.

The British Medical Association has repeatedly called for a ban on boxing

Yes because…

The British Medical Association has repeatedly called for a ban on boxing or a removal of the head from the permitted target areas. A body of medical evidence is building up to suggest that even if a boxer survives individual bouts relatively unmarked, the cumulative effect of a career in boxing can lead to a greater susceptibility to diseases such as Parkinson’s. Although the incidence of injury is much higher in sports such as basketball, rugby or riding, the risk of serious injury in boxing is far greater. In fact, that risk is so great that boxing should be banned. A ban, quite simply, would mean fewer people dead, injured or permanently brain damaged.

No because…

Though the risks of injury in boxing are significant, boxers are aware of the realities of their sport and are more than adequately compensated for these by the big purses at stake in fights. We allow individuals to take risks in all walks of life – in business, smoking, gambling and hang-gliding. Every attempt is made to ensure that the risk of injury to boxers is minimised: thorough medical checks are undertaken; doctors and anaesthetic equipment have to be present at ringside; referees intervene to stop fights and gloves have been made heavier to slow hand speeds. The best thing that government can do is to minimise the risks of injury to boxers.

As a first step, professional boxing at least should be banned.

Yes because…

As a first step, professional boxing at least should be banned, as it is already in countries like Sweden, Cuba and North Korea. Even if adults wish to fight each other for sport, violence should not be encouraged by financial reward. The amateur sport is at least much better regulated, with credible governing bodies and tough rules on wearing helmets, the length of fights, the role of the referee, etc. Knock-outs are very rare and serious injuries much less common than in the professional game (although there are still deaths each year in amateur boxing).

No because…

It would be very unfair to ban professional boxing in particular. Top amateur boxers will wish to train full-time, which can only be done by turning professional. They may be forced to go to other countries without a ban, or to appear in illegal, unregulated contests on an “underground” circuit. In any case, the lighter divisions of professional boxing are similar to the amateur sport in the rarity of knock-outs and the role of scoring in deciding fights – why should they be banned? Finally, amateur boxing is not without its critics – even at the Olympics there have been many scandals over biased scoring and the way the game is regulated.

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Modern Mike Tyson
3 years ago

The very first humans that walked this Earth used their fist to fight off something they think is threatening or dangerous. So basically boxing is as old as time. Every boxing fan knows that respect is a need in boxing. And its just ludicrous when you say “Boxing sends the wrong message to children” after saying “money and fame are gained just for hitting people” ironic isn’t it? How can you be here saying it sends the wrong message to children when it’s clearly you who misunderstood the message. Just by reading everything you said it’s obvious you haven’t watched a boxing fight because if you did then you would know that the number 1 rule is protect yourself at all times. So let me ask you what part of protecting yourself at all times is sending you the wrong message. And one last thing, The next time you criticize a sport atleast know something about it. Here’s a quote for your dumbass “to hear the music your mouth should not be open

mans got roasted
3 years ago

sheeeeeesh

Jack Brown
3 years ago

It should not be banned and you don’t have any right to deny people the choice to box.
If you’re boiling this sport down to “it’s just who can hurt the other person more” then you don’t understand the sport anywhere near enough to pass judgement on it.

Suvesh
3 years ago

Boxing should not be banned it is a amazing sport and most other sports are 10 times worse for the human body.

Many athletes destroy there bodies just to appeal to other people. Actors also do the same.

Its also bad to ban boxing because people are passionate about boxing and choose to compete on their own free will. Boxing has been proven to increase confidence and make you physically stronger

William
3 years ago

Ban it for god sake. Barbaric ridiculous sport in the 21st century we are not the 1900

Flippy
4 years ago

It should be banned.

The “sport” itself is nothing more than a competition between two people to see who can do the most physical damage to the other, particularly damage to the brain. The ideal victory, the knockout, is the point at which one of the contenders brains is so badly damaged that it shuts down for a period of time (or forever in some cases).

Real permanent physical harm is done to contenders. Repeated concussions leading to brain damage and lifelong impairment. Of course there are other dangerous sports, skiing, motor racing etc.. In these sports though injury is a risk, it’s not the objective. When a racing driver crashes their car and is maimed or killed, it’s horrible, it’s a tragic accident but when a boxer suffers a traumatic brain injury and finds themselves stuttering and shaking for the rest of their lives, or when they collapse after a fight with a massive cerebral aneurysm and die, that’s NOT an accident, that’s a direct consequence of being hit in the head.

More worryingly is the message that this sends out in society. We deify our champion fighters and there is no denying their skill and their courage, but no society should be celebrating a person for the amount of physical harm they can cause another human, it’s absurd and barbaric. These people should not be considered heroes, or even athletes, I do respect their abilities but it’s not healthy for a society to glorify them. It promotes an atmosphere of confrontation and aggression, it promotes violence, it’s simply incompatible with the type of world we all want to live in.

This is not an issue of personal choice. We know that people will do literally anything for money, we know people will do anything for fame and adulation, or even just attention. There will always be someone willing to do something dumb or horrible for whatever reason, so to say that it’s “personal choice” between “consenting parties” is simply stupid. Arm them with weapons and they’d still do it, make them fight to the death, they’d still do it.. We have to draw a line somewhere and any sport in which the sole objective is to cause serious physical harm to another human is far beyond that line.

It’s primitive and distractionary. These stadiums now are coliseums, filled with peasants desperate for blood, a little relief from the inequity and cruelty in their own lives, watching gladiators maim each other, jeering and booing and singing. It’s super depressing that we haven’t got past this yet. Boxing and all these new popular combat sports need to be banned, for the sake of the combatants, and society as a whole.

FR
3 years ago
Reply to  Flippy

I think you calling the fans peasants just comes off ass petty

andrea
4 years ago

I don’t believe it should be banned, nobody is forced to compete it’s a choice they make realizing the risk, for an example it’s a proven fact that boxing is and always will be a refuge for the under privileged, the soul reason the sport exists is down to public intrigue, there will always be a fascination in public circles as to who is the greatest fighter. Queensbury rules will always be the greatest combat sport, unarmed combat, best man wins, people focus far to much on the negative story in boxing such as the rare time a fighter is Injured, people who no very little about boxing zoning in on tragic moments when fighters were Injured to make a point of banning boxing, go look at a fight and see the respect embraced after fighters have done battle, stop believing hype, I could argue Floyd Mayweather jnr earned hundreds of millions boxing and never suffered serious damage in a 49 fight career, the sport has saved so many men who death or jail was inevitable, boxing is a sport that gives a way out to kids that could never make it any other field, it’s the only sport were the working class and the Parish priest can converse over left jabs and right crosses and who was the greatest fighter.

you know me
4 years ago

boxing shouldn’t be banned because for some people and kids growing up it is a way of life where they can escape from problems at home work or school and boxing is the only thing that makes them happy.Every boxer knows the risk they are taking every time they step into the ring why should another person that does not know anything about boxing tell them its too dangerous for them to compete even though they choose too?

CG
4 years ago

Boxing is not forced on anyone. The people who compete in the sport know what they’re getting into and are well aware of the risks of participating in it. Also, people train in boxing just for the sake of exercise and do not actually fighr or spar. If we banned boxing we might as well ban other dangerous sports like gymnastics, motorcross, football, (both American and European) mixed martial arts, wrestling, horse racing and other sports that aI consider far more dangerous than boxing. Just let people enjoy what they like. Boxing is an escape for some people to control their aggression as well. Humans are aggressive animals period, and some of us need to take our aggression out on something else, and boxing after all, is a consensual sport as I said before. Boxers fight to fight, whether they get seriously hurt or do the hurting on their opponent.

AntiBoxer
4 years ago

People who support boxing say that you could get hit in the head in any other sport too! The answer is, boxing is the ONLY sport where you AIM for and TARGET the opponent’s head in the first instance! So a hit in the head is not an accident as it is in other sports, it’s quite deliberate! Boxers “intentionally” cause concussion & brain damage! Boxers behaving like a lion or tiger is immature primitive and outdated in today’s modern world. Maybe boxers should not be entitled to publicly subsidised medical insurance because of their deliberate drain on a poorly funded health system!

Joe clyne
7 years ago

I don’t believe it should be banned, nobody is forced to compete it’s a choice they make realizing the risk, for an example it’s a proven fact that boxing is and always will be a refuge for the under privileged, the soul reason the sport exists is down to public intrigue, there will always be a fascination in public circles as to who is the greatest fighter. Queensbury rules will always be the greatest combat sport, unarmed combat, best man wins, people focus far to much on the negative story in boxing such as the rare time a fighter is Injured, people who no very little about boxing zoning in on tragic moments when fighters were Injured to make a point of banning boxing, go look at a fight and see the respect embraced after fighters have done battle, stop believing hype, I could argue Floyd Mayweather jnr earned hundreds of millions boxing and never suffered serious damage in a 49 fight career, the sport has saved so many men who death or jail was inevitable, boxing is a sport that gives a way out to kids that could never make it any other field, it’s the only sport were the working class and the Parish priest can converse over left jabs and right crosses and who was the greatest fighter.

Hanif sab
6 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Boxing should not be banned because it is a self defence game and boxers are not forced to play. It is there decisions we have to allow to take their own decisions.

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