Ain't Sport Odd ?

[Canary42]

Earlier in the week we heard of Rugby players suing the authorities because of Dementia (allegedly) sustained through participation in the sport.

Tonight we have one grown man bludgeoning another insensitive in the name of "sport", and the event being followed enthusiastically by thousands of fans.

W E I R D - - - - - - or not?

[ToraToraTora]

oddly enough, boxing got more dangerous when gloves where introduced. Bare knuckle fighters rarely went for head shots.

[emmie]

The record for the longest bare-knuckle fight is listed as 6 hours and 15 minutes for a match between James Kelly and Jonathan Smith, fought near Fiery Creek, Victoria, Australia, on December 3, 1855, when Smith gave in after 17 rounds.

[pixie374]

I agree, woof.... we've known for at least decades that head injuries can contribute to dementia and obviously can contribute towards brain damage. I don't see how any sportspeople have the nerve to suggest they couldn't have guessed.
I don't think Boxing is a "sport" though. The idea is to physically injure your opponent- it's the aim. Usually, it would be classed as assault, even with consent.

[emmie]

not for the faint of heart i would have thought.

[emmie]

millions watch it pixie, its not everyone's taste but its greatest exponent was a world class athlete. Muhammed Ali,

[pixie374]

I'm not sure that's much excuse, emmie...

[emmie]

Boxing in ancient Rome was known as Pugilatus (from which we derive the modern word pugilism) and was even more ruthless than the version of the sport that the Greeks participated in. The leather straps around the hands could be utilised, but were often replaced by what were effectively leather knuckledusters known as caestus that had metal inserted into them to cause maximum damage to an opponent.

[emmie]

i don't like F1, and that's dangerous, i don't care for the footie either, that causes injuries.

[pixie374]

Didn't Muhammed Ali end up with Parkinsons or similar? Emmie, I just would have thought we would know better by now, in spite of tradition or history.

[pixie374]

Those are risks though.... not the actual aim.

[emmie]

Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1984, three years after his retirement from boxing. He would survive the disease for another 32 years, amounting to almost half of his life. Muhammad Ali passed away from complications of Parkinson’s on June 3, 2016 at the age of 74.

[emmie]

know better how.

[emmie]

no one makes people watch it or any sport for that matter, its down to the individual to make up their own minds - you don't care for it fine.

[pixie374]

No, I know... but that's about the audience, more than the victims. Money shouldn't always come before other people's health- or even other people's enjoyment.
I'm sure millions have enjoyed fox-hunting, hare-coursing, bear-baiting and so on... but that doesn't make it any more acceptable or civilised.

[emmie]

you won;t convince me, nor me you.

[jno]

agree with TTT. Banning gloves would be a step forward; people are less likely to risk their knuckles against someone else's skull.

[pixie374]

Probably not, emmie... but legally, nobody can consent to GBH or ABH. So, I wonder how this continues.

[emmie]

because its legal.

[royfromaus]

Where would Anthony Joshua be without boxing?

That goes for thousands of young kids who have turned their life around after joining a boxing club, where you will be taught discipline and respect.

[royfromaus]

I love football but don't like where it is atm.