The gentle art of boxing

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....-publicity-stunt.html

We hear of footballers being suspended for a number of matches, others arrested and charged by the police, and their captaincy taken off them, all for allegedly using abusive words.

So what should happen to thugs such as these, should they be banned from ever boxing again?

[tamborine]

Its not about throwing punches unecessarily. They box for money & fame.

AOGs OP has drawn in the publicity every artist desires.

[andy-hughes]

chaptazbru -that simply makes it worse!

We accept that making animals and birds fight for entertainment is wrong, but then we sanction people doing it, with the excuse that they have a choice!

There comes a point where, just because someone will do something does not give them automatic licence to do it. You can find tramps who will fight for moeny -and a TV show did just that - but surely that does not make it right?

Free will does not excuse exploitation.
ree will

[Mick-Talbot]

andy hughes

I don't believe that AOG has taken an anti-boxing stance


anotheoldgit
Question Author
A very enjoyable debate, but I wonder how many of those who do not wish to see this violent sport banned, would be crying for bull-fighting to be banned if it was allowed in this country?

Why boxing seems to be different from other sports is the fact that certain safety measures are taken in other sports, but apart from the wearing of special gloves, and perhaps the gum-shield no other safety measures seem to be taken.

If we must continue with the 'sport' of boxing


That looks 'anti' to me.
He is also wrong

but apart from the wearing of special gloves, and perhaps the gum-shield no other safety measures seem to be taken.

Does the doctor not count as a safety measure ?



Also, I am surprised that you can not see that AOG is defending Terry and the racist insults.

[chaptazbru]

No, don't agree andy, nobody makes them do it and I don't 'sanction' it, I couldn't care less actually !

[andy-hughes]

Mick-Talbot - a fair point, i did not re-readAOG's posts, but you are quite right in what you say.

As to the doctor being on site at a boxing match - if I were to receive a brain-damaging blow to the head, confirmation from a doctor wouldn't really be a lot of use to me would it?

[tamborine]

Brain damage can be got from motoring/biking/hiking/rock climbing etc etc; there are a lot more dangerous sports than boxing.

With boxing its one mans blows on another; other sports its against the elements which are much more dangerous.

[Mick-Talbot]

No, but the referee can ask the doctor to take a look at a boxer at anytime during the bout .

[andy-hughes]

Tamborine - that's true, but physical and mental damage are not an intrisic part of any other sport, they are a byproduct, by no means guarenteed.

The point of boxing is to prevent your opponent from carrying on hitting you by hitting him hard enough to incapacitate him, either by injury or by brain damage - knocking him unconcious.

There are plenty of arguments to support boxing, but none of them seem able to address that fundamental issue - the object of the exercise is to hurt someone, considerably. How can that be right?

[andy-hughes]

Mick-Talbot - and say what?

Doctor, I think this boxer has been hit so hard that his brain has been crushed against his skull and he is going to be a vegatable for the rest of his life? Well, I couldn't stop the fight before, because he was punching back, before that one punch ended life as he knows it, but it's too late now Doctor.

Yes I know Doctor, it's always the same - by the time you get to look at a boxer, the damage has been done, but that's boxing.

[Mick-Talbot]

Nonsense.
Have you ever been to a boxing show?

[madmaggot]

IMO boxing itself should be banned. Which other sport's utimate aim is to cause brain damage to the opponent? (For a person to be knocked out the brain must have suffered damage).

[Ankou]

anyone know what became of the murray stone fund ?

[andy-hughes]

Nonsense - why is it nonsense?

Have I ever been to a boxing show? What do you think?

[Mick-Talbot]

So you used to like boxing then ?

[NOX]

Andy your getting somewhat rabid and desperate in an attempt to 'win' this argument and merely repeating yourself and worse still illuminating exactly how little you know about boxing. It doesn't matter matter what you or I think, or anyone else actually, this was supposed to be an exchange of views, instead it's turning into a head on competition to prove yourself right- interetsing- if your competative streak had been channelled you'd have made a good boxer ;-)

[Mick-Talbot]

C'mon AOG

One of NOX's posts must be 'best answer'

[andy-hughes]

Nox - I think you are right. I have to concede that neither I nor you and Mick-Talbot are going to change our viewpoints on this, and we are somewhat butting heads - which is entirely appropriate given the context of our discussion.

However, I will say in my final mitigation that I certainly know a lot less than either of you about boxing. But I know a lot less about Belsen than my uncle, who was one of the first British soldiers through the gates, but I certainly have an opinion about it, undimmed by my lack of personal experience.

I wil bow out now - thanks to all for a very interesting and stimulating discusion.