Boxing
has always been one of the greatest sports to be watch in and out of the ring. But
a lot of people don’t realize the repercussions that occur to these prized fighters. Cuts and bruises are the most common boxing injuries
and usually require boxers needing stitches. Body blows can lead to broken ribs
and internal bleeding, but the most serious are head injuries, which have led
to controversial debates.
Boxers have become stronger and harder hitting then before which have
led to some significant brain injuries. While other injuries repair relatively
easily, brain tissue remains damaged once damaged. The symptoms of such brain
damage include slurred speech, slow reactions and even occasional blackouts.
These symptoms may not occur immediately and can take about 16 years after
taking up boxing to 40 years after the boxer has retired from the sport. Some
of these symptoms can be seen in many retired boxers such as Evander Holyfield
and Muhammad Ali (but can also be related to developing Parkinson disease).
The American and British Medical Association have called for ban on boxing,
citing statistics of brain damage in professional boxers. They have also
suggested using head guards or having shorter rounds but I think this would
completely ruin boxing especially in the heavy weight divisions where TKO’s are
abundant.
Head injuries have become a controversial topic in boxing that have
caused deaths and serious brain damages to few boxers. A lot of these have been
in the heavyweight categories with minimal occurrences in the lower weight
divisions. I think a lot of boxers realize the future implications that may
occur to them and if they still decide to fight, it should be allowed
regardless of what may occur in the future.
I dont think that boxing should be banned due to head injuries. Every single fighter knows as hes getting into the ring that hes among other things possibly going to get a head injury/damage to the brain. Just the same as a person who smokes knows that with every puff they take of a cigarette they are more and more likely to get lung cancer. And atleast boxing does provide many physical benefits, as these guys are possibly the best conditioned athletes in the world. Also boxing makes for good entertainment and has been practiced for many years, its a shame to think that a few eggheaded scientists can try and put an end to a pasttime that has been practiced since the beginning of humanity and produced some of the most well known influential figures this world has ever seen, such as mohammed ali, sugar ray leonary, james j. braddock, and joe lewis to name a few. Instead of spending their time on such a stupid thing maybe these scientists and politiians should be doing something a little more useful with their time such as creating jobs, or finging a cure for cancer.
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