In this century, 1000 boxers have died in the ring or shortly afterwards- the youngest recorded victim was just 12 years old. Thousands more have suffered permanent disfigurement, detached retinas and a whole host of other neurological complaints. Despite a tightening of safety regulations, these injuries have continued. Yet enthusiasm for boxing is at an all time high; television audiences are up and record numbers of youngsters across the world are joining boxing clubs.

So what do we think?

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Although I dont like boxing, I realise that is there own choice. But the very young are vunerable 'it wont happen to me' attitude.

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Unlike any other sport, it is the intention of boxers to physically injure their opponents by knockout or by exploiting cuts around the eyes. It is barbaric that in the modern age we allow people to intentionally inflict injuries upon others for the sake of public entertainment and private profit. At the very least professional boxers should be forced to wear head guards, rounds should be shortened and maybe the head (as the major source of injury) should be taken out of the target area. People under 16 should also be banned from fighting in amateur fights. Currently children as young as 11 can be found sparring in boxing clubs (the UK’s Naseem Hamed started boxing at the age of 7). It seems curious that in many countries you can start boxing before you are legally deemed mature enough to have sex. It is common that on turning professional most boxers will have at least 50 amateur fights to their name - this does not include the countless rounds of sparring in the build up to each fight.

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ermmmmmmmm my boyfriend boxed for 10 years

it has strict guidelines like any other sport so i think it's about choice :wink:

i like boxing :? gets rid of a lot of frustrations

If you ban sports like boxing they continue "undergroud".
This takes away the safety precautions put in place by the boxing authorities. Thee would be no trained medics or doctors. The referees would not be trained or vetted.
This would result in more injury and death.

Boxing is also a grat way to learn self discipline. Anyone who has boxed can tyell you that it is controlled agression.
Lots of boxers who would have probably went on to lives of crime and days in prison have gone on to be successfull boxers. All due to the discipline they have been taught in the ring.

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yeah i agree if boxing is banned it would go underground but there has to be more protection for the boxers.

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i think more protection would be a good idea but in the end of the day its up to the individual if they want to do it, theres a risk of injury in any sport you do i think, i personally do not like boxing though

there are more ways of learning self discipline martial arts for one, and its not all about kicking ten bells out of your oppenent like boxing is.

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But it is controlled - like micko said if you ban it, it would go underground and that isnt ideal.

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