Is this the begging of the end for boxing in its current form

[Chippy_Tea]

I used to be a big boxing fan but got tired of dodgy decisions and pay per view was the end for me, they are now discussing the dangers of allowing fighters to carry on after a knockdown saying in other sports they wouldn't be, is this the begging of the end for boxing in its current form.





BBC News -

Tyson Fury's trainer Ben Davison has joined fighters and pundits in defending Rob McCracken against criticism he put Anthony Joshua's life at risk during his defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr.

Brain injury charity Headway says it is "shocking" that trainer McCracken told 5 Live Boxing he "knew Joshua was concussed" during his loss to Ruiz in June.

McCracken, 51, has said it was not the term he meant to use.

"I don't think the people who have criticised Rob have any knowledge or experience of boxing," Davison told BBC Sport.

"When a fighter goes down I would imagine that has some form of concussive effect every time.

"If Rob is to get pulled up and blamed or criticised then I need criticising too because Tyson got knocked down against Deontay Wilder in round nine and 12 and I allowed it to carry on. So if he is getting criticised I need it as well."

Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker told BBC Sport: "Joshua was still communicating so I don't think it was a bad decision Rob made. I think the wording is what people don't like.

"When I fought Dillian Whyte I can relate to this. I got head-butted in the back of the head and I was like 'what round is this? What happened to me?' I didn't want the fight stopped. My coach knew it wasn't time."


'I was concussed'

Head trauma is a fiercely debated topic in sports, with football, both codes of rugby and cricket all boasting varied concussion protocols.

Former European bantamweight champion Spencer Oliver told BBC World Service: "When I had my first European title defence I didn't realise I was concussed but I must have been.

"The doctor came in and asked me simple questions. I couldn't for the life of me work out what day it was. She said if I got it wrong a second time I would go to hospital. She asked me again and I guessed and got it right."

Oliver, who was placed in a coma after being injured in a fight in 1998, added: "I have known Joshua since day one, when he gets hurt he takes a few rounds [to recover]. So I understand what Rob was thinking.

"He was clearly concussed, we all saw that. But if I was in the same situation I'm not sure I would have pulled Joshua out."

Read in full https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/49683404

 

[Alex.mc]

I too was a huge fan, and The whole era of Eubanks, Benn and Watson, was for me the last real Titan struggle. But look what happened to Michael Watson.
It's a balance that has to be struck. On plenty of occasions we've seen boxers knocked down, and get up like it was literally nothing, others have been allowed to box on when clearly they shouldn't have.
I think the problem lays with the sheer amounts of money that are flying around for big matches these days. The earnings can be staggering. That means boxing has the attention of big media, and regulation will creep in, which is not a bad thing, but bad decisions will continue to be made.

I think boxing is on a downward cycle these days, and may return upwards in time. But when I don't know. Formula 1 is the same, it's dull as ditchwater these days, but hopefully one day will return some interest.

 

[DavidDetroit]

I think the money is too great and that's what drives pro sports in general. They'll pay lip service and all about "fixing" an issue but I don't think it will stop boxing. If it did, it would just go underground.

I stopped watching boxing when I was 20 or so after realizing that the men were damaging each other's, arguably, most important organ. It's one thing to blow out a knee and another to receive a blow that makes you forget your home address.

Of course, if someone wishes to box, then have at it. First though, maybe explain to the youngsters considering the sport what the liabilities are and maybe have them meet a few ex-boxers to see how they're fairing. I doubt that it would do any good but at least it's full disclosure.

 

[Dexter101]

All contact sports should probably return to the amateur format. If people choose to play rugby, do boxing etc, they are aware what the risks are and can mitigate against them as much as they can. There could be an amount of sports fees that clubs have/collect in order to maximise the support they can offer and awareness.

If you are saying to a 14, 15 year old, you should be a pro boxer and could earn millions of £s and they then can't balance the risks then that is where it gets difficult.

With boxing it is a bit different to a freak accident as well. Rugby for example front row players have broken their neck in the scrum etc. But with boxing you are purposely trying to inflict damage to the head (in most cases).

I want to live my life doing what I want to do, whether thats playing rugby, surfing, mountain biking etc. I don't want those things restricted or banned as that to me is what makes my life worth living.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I want to live my life doing what I want to do, whether thats playing rugby, surfing, mountain biking etc. I don't want those things restricted or banned as that to me is what makes my life worth li

If they were to ban boxing it would go underground so that is not the answer maybe they need to do a lot more research (as is said in the video) into headguards etc.

 

[the_quick]

Never been fan of those sports, don't get idea of a sport, were goal is to beat your opponent to submission or knock out. It can not be healthy to anyone body. I guess there is still lots of money involved, so doubt it will ever be banned.

 

[foxy]

Though I voted 'no' in the poll, anyone wanting to take up the sport would be on a psychological back foot thinking something bad could happen to them. Taking up a sport with a confident attitude is what most people do. I doubt whether Jeb Corley would be doing some of the things he does if he stopped to think what could happen, same goes for John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop.
I have watched the Dempsey v Willard fight a few times and that was brutal, ironically it was Dempsey I believe, who put forward the neutral corner in the contract when he went to fight Tunney.
It is good to watch the early Cassius Clay fights and as Mohamed Ali, the later one were a sad end to the greatest boxer who has ever lived.
I doubt if The Shadow with his elusive fighting technique will probably go as far as fighting his way out of the proverbial WPB.

 

[johncrobinson]

Boxing is one of the few sports i will watch.
But with all this brain injury buisiness i can understand why people have reservations.

I myself was badly injured in a RTA 15 yrs ago i now live in permanant pain.Its really not funny.
I carry on as best as I can.But the truth is i am now a pale shadow of my former self and whats worse i know it!!!

These are young men at the start of adult life, to suffer life changing harm in the quest for money and fame is simply one of the risks they will take.Its human nature.
But that said,The risk of permanent harm must be minimised by those in control of the sport.