To not understand how boxing is still a 'sport'

[cherryadeisyummy]

People literally punching the living daylights out of each other.

How on earth is this acceptable in modern society?

If I went up to someone and punched them in the face, I'd be arrested and end up in prison. But put it in a ring with some rope around the outisde, and that's fine.

What am I missing?

I don't think there's any contradiction at all in being perfectly civilised, and still wishing you could punch certain individuals in the face until they look like it's been on fire and someone's put it out with a shovel.

I think there's a place for boxing in mediation. It's actually a thing in traveller cultures.

The same as judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling...

I mean, do you think you could legally rugby tackle anyone? Plenty of contact sports have elements you can't do otherwise.

I agree with professionals that it and similar sports with high risk of concussions or similar injuries should not be encouraged in kids before a certain development (I think boxing specifically, it was 14 and under should not last I read on the topic, but I've read similar age recommendations for certain types of weightlifting as well), but there are many questionable things in a lot of kids sports and if we're talking two adults with full information on the situation, it may not be one's cup of tea, but I don't think comparing it to randomly punching people in the street is accurate.

Boxing is incredibly skillful, its comparable to chess in strategy. Statistically there are a lot more dangerous sports, I think polo is the most dangerous from memory, I did know all these facts years ago when I was a coach.
Boxers have to have extensive physical checks and fight is closely monitored by a doctor. Safety is paramount. I do concede that the sport has a long way to go in supporting the mental health of boxers which is a big issue as with many sports there's a lot of depression.
As a pp said, boxing clubs do a great deal in getting youngsters off the streets away from the gangs and drugs.
Boxing is great.
As an aside, it's not always easy to tell who is winning. You can be throwing a lot of punches but not necessarily scoring. Particularly in amateur Boxing.

I think it is astounding it is ever done without helmets etc.

I am not keen on banning things but it is not something I can watch.

I was just saying the same thing to DH. Feels somehow like it doesn't belong in our era. I imagine in the not too distant future, children will soon be horrified and fascinated when they learn that we used to consider boxing acceptable.

DH says I'm being optimistic though, and that's there's too much money involved for it to go away.

Very medieval.

And there was me,earlier today,thinking that if I ever took up a sport,that'd be it. I admire the skill,balance, concentration and restraint shown.
My daughters both ride. I'd hazard that putting someone on an animal thats half a tonne of muscle,with a brain the size of a walnut,spindly legs and a highly developed flight instinct,and travelling at speed and over high obstacles isn't civilized either. But it's fun.
Must be my Romany background.

I don't really get it either OP!

I think it's abhorrent.

At least the women wear helmets.

Don’t watch MMA OP. It’s like boxing but with kicks, wrestling and lots of blood. And that’s just the women!

(Disclaimer: I love it)

I don't like it either OP.

I don't get how people can get enjoyment out of watching others getting 7 shades of shite twatted out of them either.

I get there is skill and strategy, but broken noses, eye sockets, black eyes, noses bleeding, mouths bleeding etc.

Each to their own. I know a lot of people who watch it, but to me personally, I find it barbaric and also don't like other sports where people twat each other - MMA, cage fighting etc.

It doesn't appeal to me, either as a participant or a spectator, but I can think of plenty of sports that imo are less interesting. Such as any that involve no/ low contact fannying around with ball. So let's ban Wimbledon because tennis isn't my thing. And henceforth Badminton shall only refer to the event of the sport that I personally approve of, and no longer be recognised as a sport in itself. Fuck it, let's ban yoga and and crafting too because I don't like them.

Or could it be that other people are allowed to enjoy different activities?

my great grandfather was a professional boxer and then coached his son (my grandfather) went semi pro they both developed dementia and yes the repeated blows to the head probably accelerated this but I still let my 8yo train at our lical boxing gym he loves it and cannot wait till he's 10 and can have a "proper" fight its in his blood and part of his history and I'll he there cheering him on every step of the way

My grandfather was a boxer and my dad did it for a while. I don't think it is a good sport but then I feel the same about rugby as the risks are too high for head injuries. I saw a Tiktok video yesterday about a boxer called Prichard Colon - very sad story and he is one of very many I am sure.

I don't like it much. It seems like compared to other fighting sports boxing has such an emphasis on hitting the head and so many boxers end up with brain damage. And in professional boxing all the pre-match trash talk, and even brawls, is unbecoming. Most male professional boxers are not good "role models" at all.

But, it's still a sport because there's money in it and it hasn't been banned.

I hate it, and can't even watch. Not sure about sports where there's blood and bruises everywhere.
And all that squaring up to each other drama first.

Would you say the same about karate, kickboxing or jiu jitsu op?

Boxing is between 2 consenting adults. As pp have said it takes incredible skill and stamina to go the distance. And fighters like Anthony Joshua are amazing to watch (and Tyson Fury for the facial expressions ).

My husband still boxes in his late 40s and he always has done. He did it at university level and then kept it up recreationally. He now trains people in boxing as well as karate. Karate is much more lethal, so he says. He doesn’t really agree with women boxing though. I can’t say I’m delighted about him boxing, but who am I to tell him what to do. I don’t have anything to do with it. He hardly ever has injuries to his face - it wouldn’t exactly be a good look in business, so he can’t afford to. He’s had more injuries from other sports, to be honest.

He once took me to a super posh, but also strange event, where everyone was in black tie and evening dresses, but there was a boxing ring and some of the men were boxing in there. There were some celebrity types there too. Very strange, but this kind of thing goes in goes on. It’s like a network and they do business in the side. Like a club. He also cycles and races cars and similarly, business is done in this way. I think they just have to have something to physically do in order to be able to socialise.

I feel the same about any 'sport' where people kick/punch each other to gain points. I used to hate watching DS at karate, glad when he gave it up.

Pity the poor kids who see the 'sport' as a route to riches.

Utterly abhorrent that the IOC see this as a sport.

So sorry for the brain damaged ex professionals

None of them are forced into it! I used to do ballet and there’s a lot injuries sustained there - should that be banned?

Rugby is also a sport with a lot of brain injuries. Should that be banned?

Related to this topic - people should consider "boxercise". It's a mixture of circuit training and gloved techiques. It's very demanding on the stamina front, but it's also an extremely good way of getting into shape. Check if it's available at your local gym.

As for the OP's complaint about boxing, you do get injuries in most sports to be honest. To compare boxing with street fighting is unfair.

I hate it. It's the only sport where the object of the sport is to cause injury to your opponent, even to knock them out - which can only happen by causing injury to the brain.

I can see the value in it as an exercise but not when people fight each other.

people should consider "boxercise"

My kickboxing instructor used to shout IT'S NOT FUCKING BOXERCISE at us if we were slacking off. He was great.

Nobody is asking you to participate and nobody is insisting that you watch. If there are willing participants and an audience who enjoy the sport, who cares whether you approve of it or not really?