If someone swings a punch outside a pub and delivers a blow that sends an opponent crashing to the pavement - there is a chance that the result will be fatal brain damage - causing death. We have laws in place to treat that as a criminal offence.
When two men willingly climb into a boxing ring they do so with the intention of trying to land a blow with their fist that will jar their opponents brain and send him crashing to the canvas - unconscious ! Whenever this happens, there is a risk that the damage caused will be permanent and that death will follow.
Since the dark ages boxing has been a sport which delivers both fame and wealth to it's champions. There are risks that go with most sports and sudden death is always a possibility with boxing. Those that survive into old age often suffer a creeping form of dementia, caused by innumerable blows to the head damaging the brain. Boxing is a legal sport and it is much hyped by the media.
Once again the medical profession is calling for it to be banned. Davey Browne Junior, a 28 year old fighter had the misfortune to suffer a technical knock-out in a boxing match at the Ingleburn RSL - and failed to rise from the canvas. He was rushed to hospital where a brain scan revealed irreparable damage - and his life support was turned off. He was just the latest victim to what is now seen as a high risk sport.
There have been instances of death in most sports. Rugby players have become paraplegics and we now know that concussion often delivers severe after effects, but these are accidental. No player goes on the field with the aim of deliberately maiming or killing an opponent. The difference with boxing is that is precisely the aim of contestants. It is their intention to deliver the most severe blow possible to end the contest and be declared the winner. It could be said that boxing is a blood sport !
Now we have a new form of combat called "Cage Fighting " which seems to be a combination of boxing, wrestling and martial unarmed combat - and the more the blood flows the more the audience pays to watch and vigorously applauds. Women are also entering the boxing arena, and with that comes the expectation of physical damage to the more tender parts of the female anatomy.
The question parliament must decide is what action - if any - to take to regulate a very old sport that has many admirers ? One option would be to require boxers to wear protective head gear to insulate the brain, but that would restrict punches to the upper body and probably seriously detract as a spectator sport. Boxing contestants know the risks they take and they do that willingly, justly compensated by the rewards that come from a successful career. If we are going to remove all forms of risk from society, we do so at the risk of driving dangerous entertainment underground.
That is exactly what happened with cock fighting and mortal combat between dogs. Both had a following and when bans came into place the events continued at hidden venues - and they still happen in Australia today. Many people consider bull fighting as animal cruelty, but it remains the national sport in several countries.
Death in a boxing ring creates national headlines simply because it is so rare. Every year, thousands of fights are sporting events in Australia and in the vast number of cases the only damages are black eyes and severe bruising, but each boxing death brings calls for the sport to be banned. There is no suggestion of banning rugby league, Rugby Union or Australian Rules- or even cricket - when a tragic accident brings death during a game.
A good umpire knows when to stop the fight and the Boxing Federation has good reason to rule with safety in mind. Boxing is certainly not risk free, but those taking part know the risks they take and if boxing is banned there is every chance that daredevils will make money and gain fans from engaging in even riskier sports -like tight rope walking or jumping trail bikes across impossible distances.
Willingly taking risk seems an inescapable part of the human psyche !
No comments:
Post a Comment