Is Boxing Really As Bad As Its Reputation?

By Shannon “Dallas” Hall

Boxing… You either love it or you hate it, for obvious reasons. Some cannot stomach the violence, ego’s and obvious health risks related to the sport. But on the other side of the slip rope, what is the real attraction to the sport for athletes who want to learn the sweet science and test themselves in the ring? Fame? Fortune?

Ok. Let’s cancel out the low end of the doubting spectrum that boxing is just a sport for bullies and “mean guys” that just want to hurt people. These types quickly get shut out when they crawl into a ring, put gloves on, and stand in front of another opponent who is trained and ready for them. The “even playing field” eliminates those who think they can go into the squared circle and make themselves feel good by hurting someone else. So then what? The health issues?

Concussions? Head injury? Well, check this out, boxing did not even register on the grand scale of the reported concussion list from 2002 until 2015. Here are the top Professional and Olympic sports that have had the most reported head injury and brain traumas reported:

1. Equestrian (I know right?)
2. Skateboarding/Rollerblading
3. Ski/Snowboard
4. Swimming/Diving

Boxing is not even on the list! In addition, at the high school/teenage level athlete, football, wrestling, soccer, and ice hockey were at the top of the pile of sports for hospitalizations for head trauma. Boxing did not make this list either. Later health issues such as Pugilistic Dementia or Parkinson’s can develop if a fighter continues to fight un-authorized or behind closed doors after symptoms arise, but that is not allowed in sanctioned matches or competitions, for the safety of the fighter of course. Also lessening the rounds from 15 to 12 in the 1980’s has also helped with this potential problem. Tragically in 1982, Duk-Koo Kim, a South Korean Lightweight, died following a world championship match against Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. Shortly after, the World Boxing Council shortened championship rounds from 15 – 12 after studies had shown that the brain becomes more susceptible to damage after 12 rounds of boxing.

R.I.P. Duk-Koo Kim.

So after these “cons” are weighed and compared to all the other risks of other sports such as the concussions in football and other contact sports, you have to come down to the “Brass Tax” of the sport and give credit and respect where it is due. Boxing is a tough sport where only the most dedicated and elite athletes can survive and thrive. No one that hasn’t made great sacrifice and effort to the sweet science will be successful.

So what are these “pro’s” of the sport that keep it alive? Well, here is a big one, as stated by ESPN.com and several other reputable sources around the world. Boxing presents the greatest challenge to an athlete by being labeled as pound for pound, the toughest sport, measured by attributes such as strength, speed, agility, durability, hand-eye co-ordination, nerve, etc.

The greatest example to date is Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR. His athleticism is often overshadowed by his reputation and “money.” But if you look at the athlete behind the “character,” he is truly one of the most well-conditioned athletes and indeed and has sacrificed as much or more than anyone has in the sport to reach his level of success. His training schedule, diet, sparring, travel, and running ethics are second to none overall.

And love him or hate him, Mayweather, JR. also represents perhaps the greatest “pro” for the sport business-wise. He crushed Tiger Woods record for the highest paid athlete by earning $300 million from boxing in 2015 and finally retired earning a staggering total of $700 million from the sport as reported by Forbes Magazine, and is still young and in excellent health.

Coming in second of the highest paid athletes in 2015 at $160 million, was Manny Pacquiao. I happened to be at MGM the night of the super fight last year and watched a less than epic fight between Manny and Floyd, but the ambiance of the event and the legendary warriors present to show respect to the highest paid athletes in the world fighting in the ring before them, made it all worthwhile.

By the way, my leopard skin heels are still hidden somewhere behind a slot machine at the MGM when I took them off to pose for a picture with one of Pacquiao’s relatives after the fight. Oh well, a casualty of war, and small sacrifice to being near to one of the greatest fighter’s that have ever stepped into the ring.

So why boxing? Because it connects you to the greatest warriors of our time and makes you something greater than you were before you started. It presents no greater risks than any other professional sport and will get you into the shape of your life if you can take the heat in the ring. Every sport involves a risk, but that is why you take on the challenge in the first place. Statistics show that boxing is not the most dangerous sport, only the toughest, and the one that can make you the richest while earning you the most respect. So if you are going to take a risk with something, why not make it the one that can offer you the greatest reward for your time? If beating people up is not your cup of tea, then try equestrian riding or rollerblading.

Oh wait, equestrian and rollerblading are an even higher risk for head injury than boxing. Either way, you are going to risk your health doing something, so now, why NOT boxing?

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