Boxing and brain damage.

[Trainer Monkey]

Can I respond to this?

OK TM, here is an undeniable fact. Regardless of your feelings about the sport of boxing, striking your opponent in the head such that he suffers an injury (KO) is an integral part of the sport. IT is encouraged and desireable. It is allowed. We applaud it. Even when it doesn't end in KO, do it enough times and you get brain damage.

Deliberately throwing a baseball at someone's head is against the rules. It will get you tossed out of the game. Hell, a couple of pitches that even come close to a batter's head will get you tossed.

See the difference?

But yet it happens in every game almost
And what happens to a wide reciever if he goes over the middle when a safety is sitting in Zone Coverage.
If you said practically having your head removed from your shoulders,you would be correct
The NHL has an entire class of players called thugs,that are only in the league to wallop people,they arent great skaters,they have minimal puck handeling ability,but they can level a guy

Actually no, you do not get baseballs deliberately thrown at someone's head almost every game. You are just making statements out of thin air. And baseball players wear hard hat's with webbing on the inside. The issue I am making is one of intent and the rules of the game. You can have great baseball without blows to the head and body. Last time I checked, you cannot have great pro boxing without those things. You can't argue against that point.

Boxing and other martial arts is unique in that repeated blows to the head is a natural and desireable part of the game. It's how you win or lose. It is allowed and encouraged by the rules. Repeated blows to the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules in either baseball or football. This is FACT. You can't argue this point.

Focus on this issue TM. I'm talking about what is and is not allowed and encouraged by the rules.

I noticed you avoided the football part,where hitting people is intregal to the game. One of the greatest Hockey songs of all time is "Hit Somebody",sounds very passive

[holmcall]

Is there any other sport where the sanctioned and specific intention is to concuss the opponent? (sure, Thai boxing, MMA, Etc), but they are all derivatives of boxing.

[CGM]

But yet it happens in every game almost
And what happens to a wide reciever if he goes over the middle when a safety is sitting in Zone Coverage.
If you said practically having your head removed from your shoulders,you would be correct
The NHL has an entire class of players called thugs,that are only in the league to wallop people,they arent great skaters,they have minimal puck handeling ability,but they can level a guy

Actually no, you do not get baseballs deliberately thrown at someone's head almost every game. You are just making statements out of thin air. And baseball players wear hard hat's with webbing on the inside. The issue I am making is one of intent and the rules of the game. You can have great baseball without blows to the head and body. Last time I checked, you cannot have great pro boxing without those things. You can't argue against that point.

Boxing and other martial arts is unique in that repeated blows to the head is a natural and desireable part of the game. It's how you win or lose. It is allowed and encouraged by the rules. Repeated blows to the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules in either baseball or football. This is FACT. You can't argue this point.

Focus on this issue TM. I'm talking about what is and is not allowed and encouraged by the rules.

I noticed you avoided the football part,where hitting people is intregal to the game. One of the greatest Hockey songs of all time is "Hit Somebody",sounds very passive

No dude, I did not ignore football. I specifically mentioned for both baseball and football is that striking your opponent in the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules. Same thing goes for hockey. This is FACT. Are you reading all of my posts?

OK, let's talk football. Again. I agree that headshots do happen. I do not agreee that a head blow is a natural and desireable part of the game, nor do I agree that the majority of players try to knock their opponent off their feet by deliver a shoulder block directly to the head, on purpose. Same for hockey. It happens, but it is not a normal and desireable part of the game.

[Trainer Monkey]

Actually no, you do not get baseballs deliberately thrown at someone's head almost every game. You are just making statements out of thin air. And baseball players wear hard hat's with webbing on the inside. The issue I am making is one of intent and the rules of the game. You can have great baseball without blows to the head and body. Last time I checked, you cannot have great pro boxing without those things. You can't argue against that point.

Boxing and other martial arts is unique in that repeated blows to the head is a natural and desireable part of the game. It's how you win or lose. It is allowed and encouraged by the rules. Repeated blows to the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules in either baseball or football. This is FACT. You can't argue this point.

Focus on this issue TM. I'm talking about what is and is not allowed and encouraged by the rules.

I noticed you avoided the football part,where hitting people is intregal to the game. One of the greatest Hockey songs of all time is "Hit Somebody",sounds very passive

No dude, I did not ignore football. I specifically mentioned for both baseball and football is that striking your opponent in the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules. Same thing goes for hockey. This is FACT. Are you reading all of my posts?

OK, let's talk football. Again. I agree that headshots do happen. I do not agreee that a head blow is a natural and desireable part of the game, nor do I agree that the majority of players try to knock their opponent off their feet by deliver a shoulder block directly to the head, on purpose. Same for hockey. It happens, but it is not a normal and desireable part of the game.

Trent Green almost had his career ended by what?
Repetitive Concussion Syndrome
Troy Aikman,Steve Young,Andre Watters,its part of the game.
The first thing they teach you if you play defense is to lay a hit on a guy.. The best sack I ever layed on a guy playing defensive end,I thought I killed the kid,I leveled him so bad I had to push off of him just to get up. And then I turned around and formed up in the huddle.
You may not like it,but most sports that we actually watch are blood sports,if you dont like that,watch golf

[CGM]

I noticed you avoided the football part,where hitting people is intregal to the game. One of the greatest Hockey songs of all time is "Hit Somebody",sounds very passive

No dude, I did not ignore football. I specifically mentioned for both baseball and football is that striking your opponent in the head is not allowed and encouraged by the rules. Same thing goes for hockey. This is FACT. Are you reading all of my posts?

OK, let's talk football. Again. I agree that headshots do happen. I do not agreee that a head blow is a natural and desireable part of the game, nor do I agree that the majority of players try to knock their opponent off their feet by deliver a shoulder block directly to the head, on purpose. Same for hockey. It happens, but it is not a normal and desireable part of the game.

Trent Green almost had his career ended by what?
Repetitive Concussion Syndrome
Troy Aikman,Steve Young,Andre Watters,its part of the game.
The first thing they teach you if you play defense is to lay a hit on a guy.. The best sack I ever layed on a guy playing defensive end,I thought I killed the kid,I leveled him so bad I had to push off of him just to get up. And then I turned around and formed up in the huddle.
You may not like it,but most sports that we actually watch are blood sports,if you dont like that,watch golf

Sigh. This thread is about boxing and the brain. And to a larger extent brain injury in sport. I have tried to point out that boxing and some martial arts is a little bit different than other sports, in that intentional blows to the head (which is where the brain is) are an integral, natural, and desireable part of the sport. It is the very definition of the sport. It's how you win. I find it oddly compelling to watch someone who calls himself a boxing professional (you) refusing to acknowledge this difference. I don't get it.

edit: I am also a fan of the sport of boxing. Let's be clear on that point. Golf is good too. The pinpoint accuracy to which golfers can send a small object over long distances impresses me.

[Spicoli]

Just ask Troy Aikmen about concussive damage.Football players take severe damage as well but on a large scale receive no where near the negative stigma of professional fighters.Their are endless contributing factors that can cause problems before a guy even steps into the ring....draining weight,over training to begin with Imo.

Head gear seems a pro/con ??Effectively a punch is landing on a bigger mass,even partial contact rattles the brain.Seems to protect more so against cuts,visual damage but the grey matter is still dislodged off contact.

He has had what three concussions? A fighter can have that many in one fight, it doesn't receive the stigma because its nowhere near as bad, and even football is a sport that is now considered a no-no. Actually helmets help with brain damage, hence why you should wear a helmet when riding a bike or motor bike. If you don't believe try falling on your head without a helmet, and then with one, it acts like a cushion, and your brain doesn't move as much. They actually make a bigger deal about football players getting concussions than they do about boxers or guys like Wladimir Klitschko would never fight again. Because everytime you get a concusion its easier to get another one, and they get progressively more dangerous.

Also its not the glove size, but how its made, sparring gloves actually cushion the blow, they have padding that absorbs a significant portion of the power that normally would land on someone. A pro glove is harder, and those there is less of a cushioning effect, and that does make a huge difference, there is a reason why it doesn't effect you as much, and that does mean less brain injury.

Actually I believe it was about 10 or 11,and as is norm increasing in regularity.One thing about football compared to boxing is the individual basis that members compete on.And when a free safety comes flying across open field and lays out a reciever,it does not have to be a headshot.The concussive force of impact,mass per mass can result in an equally emphatic "KO".Boxing is just as much a training of defense as it is an offense but when a defensive specialist is in the ring....fans often react not so kindly unless they implement telling offense as well,landing shots.In football a guy streaks down the sideline for a returned TD,avoiding tackles the entire way,they are superstars.When a Linebacker flattens a QB,they are monsters......A boxer must be both at once.

The point about the helmuts/headgear I'm making is that a boxer has more mass of the head to connect with.Even a clipping shot,regardless of gloves sends shockwaves through the cranium.Not visually devastating but what happens inside the head can not be seen.Honestly,It would be interesting to hear from some of our Boxing members.I have never been in the ring and the best testament I can give to being concussed are squabbles on the pavement....when I was out numbered of course. Look,we as fans understand what we are seeing,Boxing is a beautiful sport of offense AND defense.Sadly tragedies happen and it is incumbent on us,as well as everyone involved ,to minimize those risks.We should speak openly of it and this thread needs to be spoken on.Nice to address it but I'd be a hypocrite to berate and single out boxing as a lone culprit.I in a very small way,'except' the dangers and after effects....but that pales and is utterly insignificant to what fighters face every time they climb through the ropes.

[Trainer Monkey]

Just ask Troy Aikmen about concussive damage.Football players take severe damage as well but on a large scale recieve no where near the negative stigma of professional fighters.Their are endless contributing factors that can cause problems before a guy even steps into the ring....draining weight,over training to begin with Imo.

Head gear seems a pro/con ??Effectivly a punch is landing on a bigger mass,even partial contact rattles the brain.Seems to protect more so against cuts,visual damage but the grey matter is still dislodged off contact.

He has had what three concussions? A fighter can have that many in one fight, it doesn't receive the stigma because its nowhere near as bad, and even football is a sport that is now considered a no-no. Actually helmets help with brain damage, hence why you should wear a helmet when riding a bike or motor bike. If you don't believe try falling on your head without a helmet, and then with one, it acts like a cushion, and your brain doesn't move as much. They actually make a bigger deal about football players getting concusions than they do about boxers or guys like Wladimir Klitschko would never fight again. Because everytime you get a concusion its easier to get another one, and they get progressively more dangerous.

Also its not the glove size, but how its made, sparring gloves actually cushion the blow, they have padding that absorbs a significant portion of the power that normally would land on someone. A pro glove is harder, and those there is less of a cushioning effect, and that does make a huge difference, there is a reason why it doesn't effect you as much, and that does mean less brain injury.

Actually I believe it was about 10 or 11,and as is norm increasing in regularity.One thing about football compared to boxing is the individual basis that members compete on.And when a free safety comes flying across open field and lays out a reciever,it does not have to be a headshot.The concussive force of impact,mass per mass can result in an equally emphatic "KO".Boxing is just as much a training of defense as it is an offense but when a defensive specialist is in the ring....fans often react not so kindly unless they implement telling offense as well,landing shots.In football a guy streeks down the sideline for a returned TD,avoiding tackles the entire way,they are superstars.When a Linebacker flattens a QB,they are monsters......A boxer must be both at once.

The point about the helmuts/headgear Im making is that a boxer has more mass of the head to connect with.Even a clipping shot,regardless of gloves sends shockwaves through the cranium.Not visually devisating but what happens inside the head can not be seen.Honestly,It would be interesting to hear from some of our Boxing members.I have never been in the ring and the best testament I can give to being concussed are squabbles on the pavement....when I was out numbered of course. Look,we as fans understand what we are seeing,Boxing is a beutiful sport of offence AND defense.Sadly tragedyhappen and it is incumbent on us,as well as everyone involved ,tominamize those risks.We should speak openly of it and this thread needs to be spoken on.Nice to address it but I'd be a hypocrite to berate and single out boxing as a lone culprit.I in a very small way,'except' the dangers and after effects....but that pales and is utterly insignifcant towhat fighters face everytime they climb through the ropes.

My intial point being
All sports are inherently dangerous,some moreso then others,but singeling out boxing is foolish.
There are people who jump out of perfectly operational planes with some silk strapped to their back for fun for the love of god. The whole point of skydiving as far as I can see,is to succesfully avoid plummeting to your death. The whole point of swimming is to not drown. The whole point of football for most of the team,is to rip someones head off.
Just saying its just boxing is foolish,since the abolition of the 15 round fight,fewer and fewer boxers are showing signs of repetitive concussion syndrome,and boxers are less prone to other debilitating injuries that are common place in other sports,like Paralysis, hamstring ruptures,when was the last time you heard about a boxer undergoing Tommy John surgery,because I guarantee you at least one pitcher this year is going to lose his career because of that injury. Crucial ligimate damage is going to happen.
Any time your an athlete,a debilitating injury is a possibility.
Its par for the course youve chosen in life,you knew the risk and continued upon your course.
Now if you want to say there is more those of us in the sport could do to protect the boxers,both during their career,and after their career,your speaking my language. But to highlight boxing specifically as a source of traumatic injuries is BS,most sports entail traumatic injuries. You have a choice of whether or not you wish to participate in an athletic activity

[DaxxKahn]

The statistics dont support that.
Should the rules be tweeked
Yes they should
But it doesnt make boxing more inherently dangerous then any other sport. I also cave,which is seriously inherently dangerous compared to boxing

The stastics do support that. Boxing is INHERENTLY more dangerous than any other sport because when it is done PROPERLY, someone is injured. Like I said before, the PURPOSE of boxing is to hurt you opponent, and you can't say that about any other non-fight sport.

You also named 2 names, one being a football player and the other a pro wrestler. I'll tell you what, you name as many people brain damaged from EVERY other sport and I'll name everyone brain damaged from boxing, and we'll see who comes up with more names.

You say cycling is more dangerous because it has a larger quantity of injuries, but contrast that to how many people cycle and how many people box.

You mean a free safety isnt trying to injure his opponent?
It would come as a hell of a surprise to every single coach in the NFL. One of the first things they teach offensive lineman is to chop block,thats where you throw your weight right in to the other guys knees. In baseball when they teach you to pitch,they teach you to throw at a guy,you mean a hard spherical object thrown at someones head,isnt intent to injure?

Well said...anyone doubting that there are intentions to injure other players....I suggest the book "They Call Me Assassin" By Otis Sistrunk...

Read up about Ben Davidson....Then deny there is no intentions to injure their opposing players

[DaxxKahn]

The amount of force the average Hocky Player takes from a hit during an NHL game is beyond what a Pro boxer recieves from a punch...

TESTED...MEASURED...RESULTS RECORDED...FACT!!!!!!!

Before you start trying to act like you know something do yourself a favor and do some research before you make a fool of yourself.....

A Hocky Player on the tail end of a full body check gets hit bwith a lot more then just a punch they absorb the full weight of a 200lb man coming at them 5-10 miles an hour....That much with out anything more is common sense..

They takje less shots then the average fighter certainly by far but if you compare the 2 blows one is much harder whn measuring power wise....

Also since you write without reading everything I do remember mentioning in one of my post about long term effects from a massive amount of blows not just one or two concussions being more dangerous..

Since you feel that everything remains around the KO then explain to us all fight DR how it is guys like Pernell who only suffered 1 KO loss or better yet Hector Camacho who has NEVER been KO'd....and he has brain damage

I figured I'd have to defend my position, I just didn't know it would be this easy. I figured someone would at least put some thought into a reply, so let me break it down slowly so that you can understand.

YES, a hockey check exerts more pressure than a punch. But where is the pressure exerted? TO THE HOCKEY PLAYER'S BODY. Its mostly shoulder to shoulder/chest impact. On the odd occaision where a shoulder catches a chin, the results are disasterous, YES. But the majority of checks are body to body, therefore THE BODY obsorbs the majority of the blow.

Think about it: Earnie Shavers punches me in the arm, and Oscar de la Hoya punches you in the head. Obviously Earnie's punch will exert much more pressure, but my body is obsorbing the blow, whereas your head is obsorbing Oscar's blow. I took a harder blow, but you're going to be the one spelling his name with an "894" for the rest of his life. Understand?

And where did I mention EVERYTHING is about the KO? Re-read my post. I didn't. I said a KO equals a concussion, which by definition equals damage to your brain. I did not say that was the only way to damage your brain. I am well aware that subconcussive blows are also incredibly damaging. I have no idea why you brought this up, because it only adds to my arguement.

Yeah it is SO EASY FOR YOU TO DEFEND YOUR POSITION....That the test were based on trauma to the head ONLY!!!!

WTF would I be talking about the mass blows to the body...We were talking about head trauma

[Taeth]

Its ignorant to not single out boxing and mma and all combat sports, NOT CONTACT sports which are also very bad, but not to the same degree.

Sure there have been guys in football who have had to quit because of concussions, but they make you quit those sports for safety purposes far before they do in boxing, because the fact of the matter is most boxers have had concussions before, unless they have never been knocked out or hurt badly.

Don't even try to compare football to boxing, how many times a game is there a solid hit that hits someone squarely in the head? How many times do you see in a game, a guy walking around without their balance? Not often at all. Football does have its hits, and I agree that the impact is greater in football, but its not focused to the head.

Quarterbacks and receivers are the ones who are usually more susceptible to head shots, and thats because they are focusing on doing something else usually when they get hit, but one hit doesn't compare to the accumulation of punishment your brain takes over a tough fight. The brain is like porridge, and one hit sometimes does more damage, but usually it doesn't. Most tackles in football are not clean hits where you can level the guy, and usually, if you know how to tackle, you aim low so you can take out of the legs. Only on the rare occasion you get to the quarterback, or line of up a receiver going across the middle will you lay them out. Because if you try to tackle a solid running back up top, you are going to get knocked on your ass. Football isn't about killing the other person its a game, thus about winning, you don't need to "kill" the other team to win.

In boxing that is the whole point, you are suppose to beat up your opponent, and I have no problem with the sport or the people that do it, its my favorite sport, I am just saying its also the most dangerous sport(in North America at least).

This is why I think people are dumbasses for calling Mayweather a pussy for how he fights, Roy Jones Jr, I think if you can fight as safely as possible all the credit to you, because for the people who haven't been in the ring, try fighting like they do, Try fighting defensively against a good fighter, an we will see how easy it is not only to not get hit, but to be defensively minded and still be an effective counter puncher, amid the oncoming punches. And getting hit solidly rattles your brain, its not easy to maintain your calm, and senses, usually in a real fight your adrenaline takes away the pain, but you get amped up from being hit, and its hard to stay calm and do what you've trained to do.

[DaxxKahn]

Its ignorant to not single out boxing and mma and all combat sports, NOT CONTACT sports which are also very bad, but not to the same degree.

Sure there have been guys in football who have had to quit because of concussions, but they make you quit those sports for safety purposes far before they do in boxing, because the fact of the matter is most boxers have had concussions before, unless they have never been knocked out or hurt badly.

Don't even try to compare football to boxing, how many times a game is there a solid hit that hits someone squarely in the head? How many times do you see in a game, a guy walking around without their balance? Not often at all. Football does have its hits, and I agree that the impact is greater in football, but its not focused to the head.

Quarterbacks and receivers are the ones who are usually more susceptible to head shots, and thats because they are focusing on doing something else usually when they get hit, but one hit doesn't compare to the accumulation of punishment your brain takes over a tough fight. The brain is like porridge, and one hit sometimes does more damage, but usually it doesn't. Most tackles in football are not clean hits where you can level the guy, and usually, if you know how to tackle, you aim low so you can take out of the legs. Only on the rare occasion you get to the quarterback, or line of up a receiver going across the middle will you lay them out. Because if you try to tackle a solid running back up top, you are going to get knocked on your ass. Football isn't about killing the other person its a game, thus about winning, you don't need to "kill" the other team to win.

In boxing that is the whole point, you are suppose to beat up your opponent, and I have no problem with the sport or the people that do it, its my favorite sport, I am just saying its also the most dangerous sport(in North America at least).

This is why I think people are dumbasses for calling Mayweather a pussy for how he fights, Roy Jones Jr, I think if you can fight as safely as possible all the credit to you, because for the people who haven't been in the ring, try fighting like they do, Try fighting defensively against a good fighter, an we will see how easy it is not only to not get hit, but to be defensively minded and still be an effective counter puncher, amid the oncoming punches. And getting hit solidly rattles your brain, its not easy to maintain your calm, and senses, usually in a real fight your adrenaline takes away the pain, but you get amped up from being hit, and its hard to stay calm and do what you've trained to do.

Agreed on all...Point i was making originally was the one that those who feel boxing/MMa is purely to inflict perm damage and not for a competitive sake is not the whole idea of the sport..of course there is the highest % in these sports you are being hit in the head on a regular basis but there is also a love of the competition

Also that the majority of the damage is done over time not from a few fights or KO's...

As for PBF and RJJ style some may have found it boring but IMO it was impressive...especially Jones in his prime...PBF would have been more appreciated if he had a James Toney type punch....

The whole Idea is to hit and not be hit

[Scrap]

Ive been about a bit, anybody who thinks Boxing isnt Dangerous wants there Brains looking at. Doesnt matter if you have a great defense Whittaker, Pep, Jones. Its what happens learning it, most damage happens in the gym preparing, preperation for Fights. Plus I believe The rule of Day before weigthins doesnt Help. Ive discussed this with Top Nuerologists, this is there belief. I love the Sport, theres so much good comes from it, this is my 50th year in it and loved every minute of it. But Im aware of the Dangers and protect to the best of my knowledge my Fighters. Teath makes some very good points, Unfortunatly they are true.

[holmcall]

Ben Davidson. God I really liked him annd the rest of those guys. Otis was from the UNIVERSITY OF MARS!!!!!!!!!!!

[DC Amateur Boxing]

Had a related discussion recently and regarding the no headgear - There was a university running a study at the Ringside Tournament regarding headgear and injury. They had boxers (over 18 yrs old) where headgear fitted with a monitoring device. I have to get the name of the university because I can't remember which one it was. The goal was to collect data for improving the protection of the boxers. I personally am ok with the headgear, but I really don't think it stops any trauma. I'm no doctor or scientist (sorry for stating the obvious), but I don't see how headgear really helps lesson the impact of a blow to the head. It's my understanding that the injurious effect of a blow is the brain jogging against the skull inside of the protective fluid that surrounds the brain after sudden movement. When the head is hit and moved violently in different directions, the skull may change directions faster and independent of the brain (because the brain is floating in the fluid). Think of a person in a falling elevator. If the elevator stops or changes direction quickly, what happens to the people inside? Would they be less injured if the elevator was wrapped in a 10 foot-thick layer of rubber? I don't think so.

I found this study that supports my two cents: Boxing Damages Brain Despite Headgear Protection - Demential pugilistica does not only occur in career boxers, as previously thought; it can also affect amateur boxers - Softpedia and this reference to it: Risking it in the ring - Los Angeles Times. I also found another that said headgear lessons the impact, but it was done in conjunction with USAB, so what else would you expect. It's funny that every study or opinion that says there isn't significant injury comes from a person or group affiliated with boxing with the exception of the BMA that produced this Amateur boxing and risk of chronic traumatic brain injury: systematic review of observational studies -- Loosemore et al., 10.1136/bmj.39342.690220.55 -- BMJ which concluded that there is no strong evidence to associate chronic traumatic brain injury with amateur boxing.

There's no doubt we are involved in a very dangerous sport, but so is football, soccer and cheerleading. I for one am all for any improvement made in the rules to help protect boxers. Unfortunately and fortunately for some - most of that responsibility falls on the coaches. To me nothing is more important than protecting boxers - mine and others.

I did find it interesting though how other sports compare, but boxing is at the top of the list per 1,000 Naysi Sport Scene: Sports Injuries Documented but it is the hardest sport ESPN.com: Page 2 - Sport Skills Difficulty Rankings

[holmcall]

Had a related discussion recently and regarding the no headgear - There was a university running a study at the Ringside Tournament regarding headgear and injury. They had boxers (over 18 yrs old) where headgear fitted with a monitoring device. I have to get the name of the university because I can't remember which one it was. The goal was to collect data for improving the protection of the boxers. I personally am ok with the headgear, but I really don't think it stops any trauma. I'm no doctor or scientist (sorry for stating the obvious), but I don't see how headgear really helps lesson the impact of a blow to the head. It's my understanding that the injurious effect of a blow is the brain jogging against the skull inside of the protective fluid that surrounds the brain after sudden movement. When the head is hit and moved violently in different directions, the skull may change directions faster and independent of the brain (because the brain is floating in the fluid). Think of a person in a falling elevator. If the elevator stops or changes direction quickly, what happens to the people inside? Would they be less injured if the elevator was wrapped in a 10 foot-thick layer of rubber? I don't think so.

I found this study that supports my two cents: Boxing Damages Brain Despite Headgear Protection - Demential pugilistica does not only occur in career boxers, as previously thought; it can also affect amateur boxers - Softpedia and this reference to it: Risking it in the ring - Los Angeles Times. I also found another that said headgear lessons the impact, but it was done in conjunction with USAB, so what else would you expect. It's funny that every study or opinion that says there isn't significant injury comes from a person or group affiliated with boxing with the exception of the BMA that produced this Amateur boxing and risk of chronic traumatic brain injury: systematic review of observational studies -- Loosemore et al., 10.1136/bmj.39342.690220.55 -- BMJ which concluded that there is no strong evidence to associate chronic traumatic brain injury with amateur boxing.

There's no doubt we are involved in a very dangerous sport, but so is football, soccer and cheerleading. I for one am all for any improvement made in the rules to help protect boxers. Unfortunately and fortunately for some - most of that responsibility falls on the coaches. To me nothing is more important than protecting boxers - mine and others.

I did find it interesting though how other sports compare, but boxing is at the top of the list per 1,000 Naysi Sport Scene: Sports Injuries Documented but it is the hardest sport ESPN.com: Page 2 - Sport Skills Difficulty Rankings

Nice research, mate