Will we live to see boxing banned?

[Kirkland Laing]

If they try then I say we form a lunch mob and beat them senseless until they realise legal fighting is the way to go.

The absolute last thing Chavez Junior needs is another lunching.

I don't see boxing being banned anytime soon. It's recently been unbanned in countries where they're at their most politically correct like Sweden. As long as boxing remains a niche sport things like Abdusalamov will go under the radar.

[ykdadamaja]

For boxing to be banned, UFC and MMA have to come with us. In addition, American football must become "softer" and tag football.


The fight game is customary in almost every society. Some follow boxing, others follow Muay Tai, Kick-boxing or some other form of martial arts.

What next? They're gonna ban Senegalese Laamb Wrestling too?

[Spicoli]

No I don't see it. Boxing at its low point is the cockroach that will survive a nuclear blast. We as a whole are a violent society and for all our chest thumping and self righteousness we tolerate violence. Legislators and activist groups target video games, shitty music and Big Macs. Boxing at its core is the epitome of free will and an individuals choice. Something at least this country prided ourselves on once. If a man or woman decide for themselves to participate that's that. Now as far as rules being micro managed, networks opting out or state commissions looking out for the safety on the athlete......the sport can very well be dumbed down, steps taken and always count on some political hack looking for a soft target. Networks don't bail on boxing because of violence but for ratings. Football isn't turning into flag football because of public outcry it's because of lawsuits. If two people want mutual violence they are deciding which is the least we can say the next time we walk to the car or corner store. Boxing is actually enjoying a new resurgence if anything.

[TitoFan]

Good post. I myself think boxing will not be banned, and the roach surviving the nuclear blast analogy is a good one. Outcries for the banning of boxing have surfaced before, only to slowly die off once the latest novelty case gets further into the past. I've loved the sport for many years, so obviously I hope it never gets banned. But I'm all for trying to make it safer without taking away its essence. How? For one thing, by cracking down on the cheaters, who in one way or another pose a serious threat to fellow boxers. How else? By providing continuing education to corners, referees, judges, ring doctors, boxing commission decision-makers..... anybody who has a hand in deciding a fighter's fate. Brain trauma is a complex, serious matter, and.... although the very nature of boxing involves inflicting that very type of brain trauma, certain steps can still be taken to make the sport a bit safer. Both for the sake of the fighters, and to keep the wolves at bay. I hate when issues become political footballs for people who couldn't really care less about the human beings involved. And like I said before, before boxing ever gets banned, I think they should start by taking a long hard look at the rules of MMA, a sport I've never warmed up to.

[Max Power]

I second that about MMA Tito.

There's something about pure boxing that I think will always win out over MMA or kickboxing or wrestling. There's a good article on expertboxing.com written just recently (only 3 articles or so down the list) on why western boxing should not be neglected even if one is from MMA, check it out.

As well as the cultural aspect is so much more rich than any other combat sport.