Yes

by Terence Clay

Created on: November 29, 2011

Boxing is a dangerous sport, nobody can dispute that.  Approximately 90% of Boxers sustain a brain injury, yet deaths are less common than in other sports.  For example horse racing.  It's difficult to calculate the chances of sustaining injuries from boxing, because of the differences in in regulation between amateur and professional.  Unsanctioned bouts, illegal fights and differences in other regulatory bodies throughout the world.  As well as a lack of long term studies.

Those who compete in other combat sports also sustain many injuries.  Judo competitors can suffer Shoulder and knee injuries, hyper extended elbows or broken fingers.  In Muay Thai and Karate  concussion, twisted knees, broken hands and fractured ankles are common.  

In rugby,  the highest amount of injuries are sustained by youths aged 10 to 18 and 90% of these are boys.  35% of these injuries are fractures, 20% are superficial and 16% are sprains and head injuries.  Of the head injuries, 44% are concussion. 

Yes, you might say, we know that these sports and many others hold risks of injury.  However, they are not on trial here, boxing is.  Well, that is my point here.  The debate of whether youths should compete in boxing has been around since I was boxing in my later youth.  I'm not condoning boxing, or any other combat or impact sport because that is not the debate.  The debate is whether it should be allowed for youths.

Since Ancient Greece, and probably in times before, humans have been competing in sports and many have been combatant sports.  Boxing and other martial arts, wrestling, medieval sword fighting, jousting and many others.  There are of course many other sports are played, such as tennis, golf and chess.  These can be just as competitive in there own right.  Which brings me to the real reason for allowing youths to box.  It is their right to do so.

I know as parents and leaders, we would like to think that combat sports are not needed.  Why, after all, do some feel that they need to hurt each other, or themselves in the process.  because it is who we are.  As humans there is a part of us that must compete, that must be involved in combat.

Perhaps the question should not be should youths be allowed to box, but how can we better protect them in their chosen sport.

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