Low blows. Why are they bad?

[:::PSL:::]

Thanks, cool video and how ironic Abner Mares was the guy doing the experiment!

It answered some questions but not really though. I can understand how a shot to the balls could be clearly awful but how many low blows actually hit the balls thoguh? 1 in 5? It seems to me that most 'low Blows' are just below the belt line but still well above that area, I mean the belt line seems to be at the belly button whereas most peoples balls are a good 8 inches or so below that I'd imagine, yet fighters routinely throw themselves to the ground when they get hit on at hip level or even slightly above.

To Agbeko's credit though, he didn't complain at all during the fight and just kept working. Judah by contrast was a complete bitch.

Maybe it hurt so much because there's not a lot of fat and muscles in pelvic area.

[Lance Uppercut]

I really dont get the whole low blow thing. I been hit low many times, while wearing the standard metal foul protector, and have never really felt a thing.

However, a punch to upper leg or hip can be effective.

[superheavyrhun]

I'm liable to agree with the convention that low blows shouldn't be allowed, although I think anyone bringing in high-waisted shorts to take advantage of this should get a kick down there to try and teach them a lesson.

With the protector in play, I think the effect on mobility from the hip or leg shots can be just as bad as the shots to the nuts. And after all, it is what has helped to make boxing the sport of kings it is today, fought by entirely honourable and gentlemanly pugilists.

[concuidado]

they are low and the hurt, simple.

[AdamGB]

Forget your balls for a second... push your hands in to your stomach... there's a relatively thick layer of muscle over the top of a fairly strong organ in the stomach... now have a dig around the front of your pelvis... really try to dig you fingers in... there are intestines... the bladder... urethra... spleen all sorts down there with little to no protection just waiting to be burst or prolapsed by an impact... it's full of nerves so that anything touching there gives a stong "GET THE FUCK OFF" signal to your brain. Not a nice place to get hit and if you could just wail away down there (even if nut shots were still illegal) you'd have a lot of shit, short or tepid/timid fights and a tonne of internally damaged fighters.

p.s. I can tell you first hand that unless your cup has been personally fitted that there/s a good chance that it may absorb some of the blow... there's all so a good chance that it will be too small etc and CRUSH YOUR BALLS.

Even assuming that the cup does fit... you'll probably still feel it a bit... I'd rather touch a shot to my contracted abdominal muscles than to me soft, saggy nuts. just saying.

[Kev]

Forget your balls for a second... push your hands in to your stomach... there's a relatively thick layer of muscle over the top of a fairly strong organ in the stomach... now have a dig around the front of your pelvis... really try to dig you fingers in... there are intestines... the bladder... urethra... spleen all sorts down there with little to no protection just waiting to be burst or prolapsed by an impact.. Not a nice place to get hit and f you could just wail away down there (even if nut shots were still illegal) you'd have a lot of shit, short or tepid/timid fights and a tonne of internally damaged fighters.

Ah, cool answer Adam. So the most exposed organs are below where the belt line would be? That makes sense if that's the case.

[AdamGB]

Yeah... All of the vital stuff... heart, brain, lungs etc are all encapsulated in either the skull or ribs, hard bone frames.

The stuff below the waste isn't as vital in terms of immediate survival, so yeah... I guess it got the short end of the stick in the "where abouts in the skeleton should we be placed" game.

You're not going to out right die from trauma to those organs (not right away anyway) but can still mess you up in the long run.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

y'know about kidney shots being illegal right?

[0james0]

Even with a cup, the cup tends to dig in. I played cricket and got one in the nuts while wearing a cup and it still hurt like hell. Clipped a ball and also bruised the area around it.

I cant say I'm a fan though of the shorts and protector near the arm pit fashion that many boxers sport.

[bcollins]

I don't know anything about the foul protector used in boxing, but I've been dropped more than once wearing a cup. Many of those came in training from a woman less than 5' tall who was really, really trying to get her spinning back kick into a legal target area.

[THE THIRD MAN]

It appears that Mares has over stepped the line with these low blows, i also believe that officials and fans alike underestimate the damage that can occur during a fight due to repeated low blows. ( I am convinced it cost Tszyu against Hatton) and i have no doubt Agbeko sufferred greatly last week. I rewatched Mares V Vic and it certainly slowed Vic down by the later rounds. (Remember Golotta? the referee took no shit that night, what has happened since?)
We need some tough referees who just say enough is enough and DQ someone mid fight, but i fear promoters, HBO or Showtime don't want that result? They want a decision (controversial or not) or preferably a sensational knockout.
Being hit in the balls hurts like hell, my English forum members will tell you what it's like to be hit in the balls by a cricket ball at close to 100mph! Your down for sometime and the wife ain't touching the family jewels for a week! Boxing has rules and being hit in the balls is the big no no, it can affect you for several rounds or have you writhing in agony (see Mayweather V Judah) I want to see a clean fight and the best man win according to the rules. Without rules, you have chaos, with chaos comes disorder. I don't want to see boxing sink to the level of a Ric Flair sucker punch to the nuts!

[marbleheadmaui]

It appears that Mares has over stepped the line with these low blows, i also believe that officals and fans alike underestimate the damge that can occur during a fight due to repeated low blows. ( I am convinced it cost Tszyu against Hatton) and i have no doubt Agbeko sufferred greatly last week. I rewatched Mares V Vic and it certainly slowed Vic down by the later rounds. (Remember Golotta? the referee took no shit that night, what has happened since?)
We need some tough referees who just say enough is enough and DQ someone mid fight, but i fear promoters, HBO or Showtime don't want that result? They want a decision (controversial or not) or preferably a sensational knockout.
Being hit in the balls hurts like hell, my English forum members will tell you what it's like to be hit in the balls by a cricket ball at close to 100mph! Your down for sometime and the wife ain't touching the family jewels for a week! Boxing has rules and being hit in the balls is the big no no, it can affect you for several rounds or have you writhing in agony (see Mayweather V Judah) I want to see a clean fight and the best man win according to the rules. Without rules, you have chaos, with chaos comes disorder. I don't want to see boxing sink to the level of a Ric Flair sucker punch to the nuts!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

(sorry, it's a reflex)

Good post.

[THE THIRD MAN]

It appears that Mares has over stepped the line with these low blows, i also believe that officals and fans alike underestimate the damge that can occur during a fight due to repeated low blows. ( I am convinced it cost Tszyu against Hatton) and i have no doubt Agbeko sufferred greatly last week. I rewatched Mares V Vic and it certainly slowed Vic down by the later rounds. (Remember Golotta? the referee took no shit that night, what has happened since?)
We need some tough referees who just say enough is enough and DQ someone mid fight, but i fear promoters, HBO or Showtime don't want that result? They want a decision (controversial or not) or preferably a sensational knockout.
Being hit in the balls hurts like hell, my English forum members will tell you what it's like to be hit in the balls by a cricket ball at close to 100mph! Your down for sometime and the wife ain't touching the family jewels for a week! Boxing has rules and being hit in the balls is the big no no, it can affect you for several rounds or have you writhing in agony (see Mayweather V Judah) I want to see a clean fight and the best man win according to the rules. Without rules, you have chaos, with chaos comes disorder. I don't want to see boxing sink to the level of a Ric Flair sucker punch to the nuts!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

(sorry, it's a reflex)

Good post.

Ric Flair is the man when it comes to low blows!