Boxing is a dangerous sport and doesn't deserve state funding

[nip102]

It is immoral to encourage young people to risk brain injury by repeated blows to the head
Your article on the resurgence of boxing ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) highlights an irrational, immoral and dangerous funding strategy that encourages people to risk their health (Off the ropes, and back into the ring – boxing makes unlikely comeback in schools and clubs ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), 16 November).
You quote Rebecca Gibson of the Amateur Boxing Association ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) saying that "the sport had benefited from the success of fighters such as Amir Khan and a jump in funding from £50,000 in 2005 to £4.7m this year". The government funding, via Sport England, is a huge amount of money; but the figure becomes positively offensive when you consider how much financial support is provided for charities working to help people rebuild their lives after brain injury.
Headway is one of those charities: through our network of 110 groups and branches across the UK, we provide support and rehabilitation programmes. This year, our total public funding was less than £300,000 – a pittance in comparison to the millions spent on promoting a dangerous and reckless sport.
The article's subhead states: "A decade ago there were calls for the sport to be banned on safety grounds. Now even its harshest critics have been won over." This is a gross misrepresentation: its critics are as determined as ever to see this dangerous sport banned.
The report also quotes Tessa Jowell ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), the Olympics minister, saying: "Twelve years ago I considered boxing almost too dangerous to be considered as a mainstream sport. I was public health minister and the British Medical Association quite regularly at that time called for boxing to be banned." Jowell needs to know that the BMA, like the World Medical Association, still believes boxing should be banned ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), due to the cumulative effects of repeated blows to the head.
Brain injury can be devastating. It can mean losing the life you once led and the person you once were, and victims often have to relearn the most basic of life skills – such as walking, talking, thinking and feeling.
Jowell said that boxing "gives [young people] self-esteem, it gets rid of aggression, yet at the same time is a highly disciplined sport. We know it can be a way of disengaging kids from gangs, carrying knives, from low-level crime and high-level antisocial behaviour." But the notion that boxing is the only sport that instils a sense of discipline is short-sighted, to say the least. If you are to succeed in any sport you need discipline.
And there is a long list of boxers – both amateur and professional – who have fallen foul of the law in the past year. Most have been arrested for, or accused of, violent crimes or assaults. So much for discipline.
You also state, "Boxing is now available in 34% of secondary schools ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) in England", and that "5% of primary and 26% of secondary schools ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) have a formal link with an accredited amateur boxing club". This is disturbing. The increasing number of people taking up boxing will lead to a greater demand for the services of charities like ours. I can only hope that, when the time comes, this increased demand will be met with increased funding.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[nip102]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
link to the article he is discussing

[Losfer_Words]

The key word there is 'risk'. I also think it's pretty risky to get in an extremely heavy, huge metal tube filled up with kerosene and then have it fired towards the sky at a speed faster than sound using jet engines attached to flimsy wings.

A lot of the anti-boxing brigade have their own agenda. They have no idea how good the ringside medical teams and safety infrastructure actually are either. Jockeys and rugby players are also at a high risk of head injury- I don't see either of those two mentioned in the repudiation/ propaganda piece:think.

[mufasa]

Boxing is the 75th most dangerous sport in the UK. I bet noone here can name 75 sports. It's less dangerous than gymnastics for christ's sake.

[nip102]

your man has an agenda and he forgets to mention its 75th on the list of the most dangerous sport which was in the article he is complaining about.The fact morons like him are discussing this is worrying

[davidjay]

I'm sure these lads are ever so glad they took up a safe sport:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Beeston Brawler]

One reason why boxing gets a lot of negative press in this respect is because it doesn't really support it's former athletes - a lot of them fall into booze/drugs/gambling/domestic abuse - sometimes a combination of the above - whilst others receieve career ending injuries in the ring.

Other than the odd charity dinner, what does the sport give back?

Perhaps if it introduced something like.......

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

It might get more positive press.

[TBooze]

Boxing is dangerous period.

It is one of few sports that the ultimate aim actually is to knockout your opponent out, with your fists...

But if regulated correctly it is a sport many enjoy both in participation and as a fan.

The BBB of C leads the world in boxing safety, and has never rested on its laurels, unlike say a sport like Rugby Union, where I could be scrummaging against a complete novice and could quite easily seriously injury them, and in turn, be up against someone, who could do the same to me, totally legally, something that simply could not happen in this sport in this country.

[nip102]

One reason why boxing gets a lot of negative press in this respect is because it doesn't really support it's former athletes - a lot of them fall into booze/drugs/gambling/domestic abuse - sometimes a combination of the above - whilst others receieve career ending injuries in the ring.

Other than the odd charity dinner, what does the sport give back?

Perhaps if it introduced something like.......

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

It might get more positive press.
Right on the money very few fighters make hatton money but they all get injured.Boxing needs a healthcare and pension system,its want fans and dogooders like the writer should demand.But the sport is too messed up

[GazOC]

The difference between boxing and most sports above it on the "risk" is the particpants intent to harm. Thats how the anti-boxing mob justify it anyway.....

[Beeston Brawler]

Boxing is dangerous period.

It is one of few sports that the ultimate aim actually is to knockout your opponent out, with your fists...

But if regulated correctly it is a sport many enjoy both in participation and as a fan.

The BBB of C leads the world in boxing safety, and has never rested on its laurels, unlike say a sport like Rugby Union, where I could be scrummaging against a complete novice and could quite easily seriously injury them, and in turn, be up against someone, who could do the same to me, totally legally, something that simply could not happen in this sport in this country.

Good post.

Some of the stoppages in this country, frankly, are pretty ridiculous...... but I'd rather see 1m early ones than a single one that was far too late.

Rugby union is a fair example, but one thing that you must realise is that the clubs are obliged to have players that can cover loosehead, tighthead and hooker on the bench - if they want to replace someone for whatever reason - and if the replacement gets injured, say a torn hammy, the starting player is permitted to return - if both players for any of those positions are injured, we revert to non-contested, rugby league style scrums.

Having played more matches than I care to remember, I can't recall a player being seriously injured during the act of scrummaging, the new laws to prevent injuries have (IMO) made the situation worse because every single scrum has to be reset several times.

More players get injured when being tackled in the air, stamped on and such.

[nip102]

Rugby does have a major problem with injuries aswell.Remember that scotland game where two player where still playing after being ko'd till the ref send them off.Plus some players take huge damage like Jerry Flannery that dude going to have a lot of problems in later life

[Beeston Brawler]

Hmmm.......

Most rugby players have played on in a game when they were unaware of what was going on..... it's not uncommon. You do get a bollocking from the coach afterwards for missing a routine tackle because you were running the wrong bloody way :nut

[TBooze]

Good post.

Some of the stoppages in this country, frankly, are pretty ridiculous...... but I'd rather see 1m early ones than a single one that was far too late.

Rugby union is a fair example, but one thing that you must realise is that the clubs are obliged to have players that can cover loosehead, tighthead and hooker on the bench - if they want to replace someone for whatever reason - and if the replacement gets injured, say a torn hammy, the starting player is permitted to return - if both players for any of those positions are injured, we revert to non-contested, rugby league style scrums.

Having played more matches than I care to remember, I can't recall a player being seriously injured during the act of scrummaging, the new laws to prevent injuries have (IMO) made the situation worse because every single scrum has to be reset several times.

More players get injured when being tackled in the air, stamped on and such.

The sub rule does not work, as we like everyone else just nominate one of the second row. I am far from good, but at times I have scrummaged against kids that never done it in their lives.

Like you said, the new rules does not work. I would agree with your injury point, but that is only because most people in Rugby, play to the spirit of the law, rather than the literal interpretation (the we all got to go work on Monday rule), and clearly this is occasionally broken as I know of a couple of people who have been paralyzed in the sport.

[Beeston Brawler]

So the poor 2nd row has to get in there and suffer..... poor guy :-(

It's not something any team I have played in have ever done - it has only been necessary once and the ref just went for uncontested scrums.

Having played mainly at #7 I get to see some of the goings on, and have heard a few tightheads shouting ''neck'', and looseheads being lifted by the tighthead boring out.... but nobody seriously injured, not to the point of going to hospital or worse.

[GPater11093]

whats more dangerous

some kid drinking himself out every night getting into fights near every night and fucking about doing nothing

or

a highly motivated, healthy, fit boxer

i dont even think of boxing as hitting someone i think of it as me trying to score a goal by hitting them my hardest and i want the ref to say i dont need to score any more goals so i throw harder punches. i dont think of it as me and some kid forced to fight each other to the death

[mufasa]

I'm sure these lads are ever so glad they took up a safe sport:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
Very few schools actually teach rugby properly. Just about every rugby injury at lower levels comes from someone doing something badly.

[TFFP]

What these fuckwits do not comprehend is the fact participation is voluntary. Bottom line, whatever the potential results of any endeavour, people should be able to do as they please without god damn Nanny states imposing their will. Fuck these cunts, thats all I have to say about them.

[nip102]

What these fuckwits do not comprehend is the fact participation is voluntary. Bottom line, whatever the potential results of any endeavour, people should be able to do as they please without god damn Nanny states imposing their will. Fuck these cunts, thats all I have to say about them.
Are there any boxing gyms in iceland

[TFFP]

Are there any boxing gyms in iceland
Yes, there are a few dotted around. I pop into one every now and again and have a look at what they're doing. :good

[widdy]

when i was boxing a good mate of me and blue died,he was a boxer down at our local am club,it was defo boxing related,he got hit a lot,but a top lad.
it is defo a dagerous sport,but so are most things,we all know the dangers involved,but like the icelandic warrior said,we don't get forced into it.

pete varny,RIP mate

[T.C.W]

It just fucking incredible the amout of money that UK are spending on ametuer boxing 4.7 million pounds. wow

['Ben']

You would think they would be more interested in the other 75 MORE dangerous sports in this country wouldn't you?

In regards to discipline, boxing has more discipline involved than any other sport and the confidence you get from it fasr outweighs any other too. Boxing don't have the spoiled bratts that football and even rugby produces. In all truth I've never met young people with the type of manners that boxers have. There are obviously exeptions (Tyson stands out) but boxing is a sport that usually produces gentlemen. Tessa Jowell obviously a ignorant, not too bright pompas prat.:D

[Mazallan]

Anybody else shocked that the Guardian newspaper is full of cunts? They get away with this shit because of the retarded readers that buy the trash.

['Ben']

Anybody else shocked that the Guardian newspaper is full of cunts? They get away with this shit because of the retarded readers that buy the trash.


I don't know much about that newspaper but I bet those bastards on tubes who constantly folding their giant papers are reading it.:think

[Losfer_Words]

Anybody else shocked that the Guardian newspaper is full of cunts? They get away with this shit because of the retarded readers that buy the trash.

I know what you mean, The Sun and The Star are both full of tits as well:blood. The broadsheets' core reading group is just an audience that loves to sneer at others from their tower of self-righteousness. Accept that others are different to you and you aren't always right, you fools!

['Ben']

I know what you mean, The Sun and The Star are both full of tits as well:blood. The broadsheets' core reading group is just an audience that loves to sneer at others from their tower of self-righteousness. Accept that others are different to you and you aren't always right, you fools!


Oh yeah, it's hard to comprhend why anyone would want to read the sun or star apart from look at dirty pictures (kind of dirty anyway, in whicvh case the sport or even porn is better recomended anyway) because it sure isn't for the boxing journalism that's for sure!

[bored]

the guy who wrote it has a little willy.

[paddymickey]

Having participated in 6 contact sports including Rugby, Boxing, MA, football and cross country running and GAA I can honestly say footy and Rugby lead to more injurys. The only danger in boxing really is dehydration but that has been corrected now since the late 90's. What would make boxing even safer would be a unified approach from the 4 governing bodies on international code of conduct for areas such as licensing. E.g. IF boser X I wont name any names, is refused a licence to box in USA, then it is considered interntional not just country specific and so he cannot bypass the opinion of the doctors by getting a license to box in the UK. That's about the only glitch I see right now.

[TBooze]

Anybody else shocked that the Guardian newspaper is full of cunts? They get away with this shit because of the retarded readers that buy the trash.

Call me a retard then, because I read it...

The Guardian is a quality paper with some brilliant journalists. I can fully understand the moral argument for the banning of state sponsorship of boxing, the argument to a point is compelling but ultimately in our society, flawed.

But give me a utopia and I would accept the lack of State sponsorship (it is a utopia, we do not need money).;)

[davidjay]

As Henry Cooper once said, in an ideal world we wouldn't need professional boxing. But this world is far from ideal and there are many things that should be sorted out before boxing.

[BURNLEYBLUE]

when i was boxing a good mate of me and blue died,he was a boxer down at our local am club,it was defo boxing related,he got hit a lot,but a top lad.
it is defo a dagerous sport,but so are most things,we all know the dangers involved,but like the icelandic warrior said,we don't get forced into it.

pete varny,RIP mate
Just thought I'de let you lads Know. Widdy,my best mate and your fellow esb boxing fan, is in a bad way right now. He was rushed into hospital on tues after complaining of severe headaches for over a week and a cat scan revealed a blood clot on the right side of his brain. He's now on morphine and steriods apparently to reduce the swelling on his brain so they can drain the fluid off. Widdy was helping the kids down the local am gym the other week with some light sparing and it's been suggested that this maybe the cause. I was there and I seriously doubt this. I would be more inclined to point the finger at another of Widdys loves, scuba diving, witch he was out doing 2 Sundays ago. Anyway,whatever the cause,what matters is that he makes a full and speedy recovery. I know any well wishes from his fellow boxing nuts would be more than greatly appreciated.A genuinely top fella with a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters.
Cheers in advance lads.

[suicide booth]

Shit sorry to hear about your mate. Hope he gets back on his feet soon.

As for the topic, I will not defend boxing. It's not something I will let my kids do if I ever have any. I just like to watch it. That's it.

[icemax]

Just thought I'de let you lads Know. Widdy,my best mate and your fellow esb boxing fan, is in a bad way right now. He was rushed into hospital on tues after complaining of severe headaches for over a week and a cat scan revealed a blood clot on the right side of his brain. He's now on morphine and steriods apparently to reduce the swelling on his brain so they can drain the fluid off. Widdy was helping the kids down the local am gym the other week with some light sparing and it's been suggested that this maybe the cause. I was there and I seriously doubt this. I would be more inclined to point the finger at another of Widdys loves, scuba diving, witch he was out doing 2 Sundays ago. Anyway,whatever the cause,what matters is that he makes a full and speedy recovery. I know any well wishes from his fellow boxing nuts would be more than greatly appreciated.A genuinely top fella with a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters.
Cheers in advance lads.

Fucking hell Blue...I was waiting for the punchline there. I hope to God he is OK, and please give our best to him and his wife and kids.

[BURNLEYBLUE]

Fucking hell Blue...I was waiting for the punchline there. I hope to God he is OK, and please give our best to him and his wife and kids.
Cheers mate,will do. Was with him last night at the hospital and he mentioned this thread. Fuckin ironic eh. You just never know.
Anyway things lookin a bit more positive now. :good

[Mazallan]

Call me a retard then, because I read it...

The Guardian is a quality paper with some brilliant journalists. I can fully understand the moral argument for the banning of state sponsorship of boxing, the argument to a point is compelling but ultimately in our society, flawed.

But give me a utopia and I would accept the lack of State sponsorship (it is a utopia, we do not need money).;)


You are a retard.

[brown bomber]

Hope he's ok mate. Missing his cracking one liners on here.

[Ubersteve]

Yeah, get well soon Widdy. Fucking hell.

[icemax]

Cheers mate,will do. Was with him last night at the hospital and he mentioned this thread. Fuckin ironic eh. You just never know.
Anyway things lookin a bit more positive now. :good

Tell him he's a chinny cunt, being hospitalised by under 16s :-(

[Mazallan]

Best wishes.

[Grant1]

Boxing is the 75th most dangerous sport in the UK. I bet noone here can name 75 sports. It's less dangerous than gymnastics for christ's sake.

Anybody got the list?

[robpalmer135]

i agree with most of what your saying but there do need to me more strict rules put in place. Someone like Ricky Hatton should not be allowed to box anymore for example. you should not be allowed to box beyond the age of 40.

[kosaros]

Cheers mate,will do. Was with him last night at the hospital and he mentioned this thread. Fuckin ironic eh. You just never know.
Anyway things lookin a bit more positive now. :good

That is good to hear. Hope he makes a quick recovery :good

[Losfer_Words]

Just thought I'de let you lads Know. Widdy,my best mate and your fellow esb boxing fan, is in a bad way right now. He was rushed into hospital on tues after complaining of severe headaches for over a week and a cat scan revealed a blood clot on the right side of his brain. He's now on morphine and steriods apparently to reduce the swelling on his brain so they can drain the fluid off. Widdy was helping the kids down the local am gym the other week with some light sparing and it's been suggested that this maybe the cause. I was there and I seriously doubt this. I would be more inclined to point the finger at another of Widdys loves, scuba diving, witch he was out doing 2 Sundays ago. Anyway,whatever the cause,what matters is that he makes a full and speedy recovery. I know any well wishes from his fellow boxing nuts would be more than greatly appreciated.A genuinely top fella with a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters.
Cheers in advance lads.

For what it's worth, pass on my well-wishes as well, Blue.

[Grant1]

Just thought I'de let you lads Know. Widdy,my best mate and your fellow esb boxing fan, is in a bad way right now. He was rushed into hospital on tues after complaining of severe headaches for over a week and a cat scan revealed a blood clot on the right side of his brain. He's now on morphine and steriods apparently to reduce the swelling on his brain so they can drain the fluid off. Widdy was helping the kids down the local am gym the other week with some light sparing and it's been suggested that this maybe the cause. I was there and I seriously doubt this. I would be more inclined to point the finger at another of Widdys loves, scuba diving, witch he was out doing 2 Sundays ago. Anyway,whatever the cause,what matters is that he makes a full and speedy recovery. I know any well wishes from his fellow boxing nuts would be more than greatly appreciated.A genuinely top fella with a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters.
Cheers in advance lads.

Send him my best regards mate :good

[brown bomber]

i agree with most of what your saying but there do need to me more strict rules put in place. Someone like Ricky Hatton should not be allowed to box anymore for example. you should not be allowed to box beyond the age of 40.:lol: You make me laugh so much sometimes.

[BURNLEYBLUE]

Tell him he's a chinny cunt, being hospitalised by under 16s :-(
:rofl He's already been told mate:yep Lads still got his sense of humour.
Steroids doin the trick aparrently and he's lovin the Morphine:nut Gunna rescan him on Monday. Fingers crossed.
Massive improvement on yeterday when i think if we'd of had a gun he'd of asked me to use it to end the pain.
He' always been a drama queen:yep

[icemax]

:rofl He's already been told mate:yep Lads still got his sense of humour.
Steroids doin the trick aparrently and he's lovin the Morphine:nut Gunna rescan him on Monday. Fingers crossed.
Massive improvement on yeterday when i think if we'd of had a gun he'd of asked me to use it to end the pain.
He' always been a drama queen:yep

:good:yep

Steroids? Just think, the only time Widdy will be in the same company as Shane Mosley :hey