IS THIS OK?

[ladybirder]

What to you think?

http://www.dailymail....ng-cage-fighting.html

[B00]

But that's boxing, this is a street fight...in a ring.

For the record, I personally don't like children boxing either, but that's purely my opinion.

[237SJ]

It`s always gone on in the gypsy community. I wonder if the Daily Mail care so much about that?

[ummmm]

Yes....it's barbaric.

[ladybirder]

If a kid wants to box, as it's properly regulated, and the parents agree, then I couldn't argue against that.

[jackthehat]

Dreadful.
And the spectacle of the baying adults was hardly edifying, either.

[Sammy48]

nobody has mentioned the scantilly clad ring girls parading in between rounds in front of these lads.....

[ummmm]

I was just going to say that Sammy...

[Euphemia]

All in all, it's a circus

[DTCwordfan]

I have no issue with a physical sport, given proper equipment, supervision and in this case, medical support. No different to Taekwondo or other martial arts.

To some extent I have no issue to competition - as long as the rules to what "step-back" is as to protecting the vanquished. I would need to understand more on that before really commentating.

I do have an issue with the broadcast on the Internet (or any active media like TV) for this, that is abhorrent and I think could be seen as perverted - young kids (I presume mainly pre-pubescent boys) wrapping their limbs around each other. That is the disturbing thing in this story - it featured on the Beeb News as well.....

[China Doll]

I'm not sure... it's certainly unsavoury in how they've gone about it... BUT... I'm trying to put it in line with martial arts which I'm actually in favour of children learning more. And I know that I would encourage my children (if I had them) to take up martial arts and I imagine that if they liked it and wanted to get their belts then they'd have to have rounds of fighting each other, I don't have a problem with any of that. Looking at the moves these kids are doing in the ring, it looks like wrestling moves, again, not something I have an immdediate problem with. So, I'm left wondering if it's the baying adults, the semi-nekked ladies and the cage that has left the nasty taste in my mouth and makes it seem realy quite barbaric.

[joko]

when i saw this, before i looked at the link i imagined some grotty little garage somewhere with a load of thugs and grotty old broken nosed old men...i am very surprised to see it has a professional, well lit ring, uniforms, logos, and seemingly wide support

they should be ashamed of themselevs

[naomi24]

It's horrible! Where on earth are these parents' brains? So called 'Sports' that require the contestants to knock each other senseless should have disappeared with the Romans!

[ELVIS68]

I don`t mind watching boxing, can`t watch cage fighting, too barbaric for me

[Arksided]

It's one thing to be caught up in a 'street fight' and (knowing) being taught how to defend yourself, but presented as a sport at Eight years old is disgusting.

[DaisyNonna]

Absolutely disgusted by it. Teaching a youngster martial arts may have merits. This is nothing but exploitation of minors. Adults watching (betting on?) children in cages? Cock fighting and dog fighting are bad enough. Children fighting in this way is sickening and should be illegal. Saw one mother on TV earlier and she was positively smirking.

[factorfiction]

Yeah, I saw a lad's mum on TV who said its better her 8 year old son does this rather than goes out vandalising and mugging (or words to that effect). I sort of agree if they were the only 2 choices in life but they arent. There are other options in life for an 8 yearold like staying in and reading, playing a team sport, swimming, or going to bed at a reasonable time.

[ELVIS68]

Reminds me of a time in a pub where a chavvy couple with two kids were encouraging them to fight each other, one of the kids was obviously upset and crying trying to turn away from the punches while they were egging the other boy on.
They thought it was hilarious and called the poor kid a poofter for not fighting back.

[flip_flop]

Is this any different to parents allowing their kids to take up boxing?

Whilst I would never allow a child of mine to do this because I think it is barbaric and my parental instinct is to protect my kids from harm, the fact of the matter is that this activity is not illegal.

[B00]

Neither was dog fighting, bull baiting etc flip flop until people realised that it was wrong.

[emmie]

horrible, and i just heard this on the radio, where the man in charge, or some numpty was asked about it, and he said it's not cage fighting, then interviewer said but it's in a cage, numpty, oh yeah..