The Death of Boxing?

[marbleheadmaui]

Two recent football developments have got me scared to death for my beloved sport of boxing.

1. In the Ivy League new rules are being instituted that place strict limitations on the number of contact and full pad practices both in pre-season and during the season. Now all the rules really do is codify current practices anyway. I don't know of any college team that hits more than twice a week in season or who goes full pads for more than one of the two regular pre-season practices. Here's the problem. The reason for this codification is to prevent head injuries by limiting collisions. I think it is of critical import that it is the Ivy League that is doing this. Why? Because it is the Ivy Leaguers who are disproportionately opinion makers, politico's etc. They have outsized influence and if they have this kind of focus on protecting athletes from head trauma? What's next?

Ivy League football limits full-contact practices to reduce brain injury — NewsWorks

2. In the yet to be signed National Football League Labor Agreement, they will be limited to one a day pre-season practices to limit injuries. At the same time a group of 75 ex players is suing the league claiming they withheld knowledge of head injuries since the 1920's. And last year, as we all know, a new level of attention was paid to head shots by the league, conceding something had to be done.

NFL.com news: Blank 'optimistic' owners will approve labor deal Thursday

Here's the problem? If the ex-players can successfully sue the NFL for compensation? The ballgame is over. I mean what then prevents fighters from successfully suing promoters for their injuries? How many suits would it take to drive Arum, King, Golden Boy and every other promoter from the sport? Not very many. And even if those suits do not win? Doesn't it feel like with everything above we are moving towards a society where violence to the head will be considered criminal in any context other than self-defense and civilly liable as well?

If that happens? How long is it before my beloved sport is targeted and destroyed either financially or by legislation?

Geeze I hope I'm being paranoid.