to dislike boxing ?

[vienna1981]

I'm not a sports fan by any means but I find boxing particularly distasteful. I accept it has a huge following worldwide and there are many who laud it as a martial art. Apparently it also teaches discipline and respect. But I can't see any of these supposed plus points. When I hear about a boxing match all I can think of is two people, usually grown men, braying the shit out of each other, in the name of sport.

[Winterbells]

Yanbu.

I don't think boxing is anything like a martial art. It is just two men hitting each other as hard as they can. It's a blood sport, it's vile.

[pauline6703]

As I see it boxing aims to inflict injury on the other person. It should be banned

[Thunderbolt]

You are definitely not being unreasonable. I hate it.

Martial arts are a very skilled and disciplined field. Yes, they are a combat sport and are about self-defense but they also focus on spiritual development, mental wellbeing and the competitions are not about maiming the other person. Boxing is a blood sport, it's disgusting. It's a way for people to view real violence in a legal way. I fail to see anything even remotely positive about it.

[steff13]

Is someone trying to tell you that you're required to like boxing?

[Thisismyfirsttime]

I see 2 consenting adults (in terms of televised boxing) choosing to punch each other. Why not? Dogfighting etc are vile bloodsports, boxing to me is a perfectly legitimate sport. I don't particularly want to watch but what's the harm?

[SaucyJack]

Don't watch MMA then.

[LadyLuck10]

You don't but another person does. What's your point ?

[vienna1981]

Steff. No one is telling me what I should be thinking. As a man in his early forties who works in a male-dominated blue collar environment I am increasingly aware that I am somewhat at variance with my peers and colleagues. I am also bemused when they get all worked up over the football results. But that's another story.

[booksandchoc]

Yabu. Boxing is a highly skilled sport. You may just see guys punching lumps out of each other, but to be a champion boxer it's takes years of training, that's where the discipline comes from, you have to disciplined and dedicated to train for a fight. A lot of boxers have respect, some don't but many do and if you actually watched before and after a fight you would see the respect. My husband used to box and unless you know someone who is dedicated and passionate about the sport you won't understand. It's also helped a lot of kids who were going down the wrong path to get on the straight and narrow, this was tried tested and proven and gets a lot of public funding.

[booksandchoc]

But yanbu to dislike it. Each to their own and all that.

[vienna1981]

Thankyou for a well reasoned reply booksand. I'm just trying to find out what folk think about it. I confess I like Frank Bruno as a person, not for his profession, and I accept he's a long time out of the limelight.

[KeeperOfBees]

My dad was a professional boxer. Growing up we had a boxing club. The police would sometimes bring boys to the gym instead of putting anything down on paper that would follow them as they grow up.

These boys would get fit,shape up,stop smoking,getting in trouble etc. It was a very positive thing for them. My dad wouldn't accept any bad behaviour,swearing,fighting etc.
Not many boxed as we knew it but would train three times a week and would spar briefly.

We are friends with many still who have gone on to marry have children etc. One is now a owner of a recruitment agency,the other a helicopter pilot. Nobody eould know the horrible start they had.
One example is a 14yr old boy that came to my dad from a violent upbringing,he had been arrested on a building site stealing a diggerand tried to stap the policeman. He is now in his 40s and comes to the gym with his son and daughter and helps out. Also,on a friday there is a girls only training night. It's not the sweaty testosterone filled smoky gym people imagine. I get that its not for everyone. Discipline and self control is very important in boxing.

My dads mantra was always "The idea is NOT to get hit"