Should boxing be banned?

By Boxing News - 03/11/2016 - Comments

BOXING(Photo credit: Lawrence Lustig) By Mark Havey: It’s a sport of tenacious valor and unrivaled tradition. A sport that can turn undesirables into heroes, the working class into the rich. However, there are people that call on boxing to be banned.

I recently read an article demanding that Boxing be made illegal. The Anti-Boxing contingent focus on head trauma. Of course it happens. It also happens in Football, Hockey, Horse riding and Baseball. All sports carry risks. Boxing can leave you with permanent damage, but so can driving. When was the last time someone demanded driving to be made illegal?

The ‘Ban Boxing’ article claimed the sport is out-dated and has no place in modern society. I disagree. In fact I think boxing is more pertinent than ever.

Children are becoming lazier and more unruly every year. Boxing gets them off the computer and socially interacting with people. It keeps them active and they will make friends. It teaches them discipline and self control. When I was young I avoided trouble. I didn’t fight just because I could. Trainers work with Parents to make sure that Children do their homework and don’t fight at school. You often hear Trainers telling Kids that they can’t spar because they haven’t done their homework (The worst punishment).

For me, Boxing has changed my life and given me a comfortable lifestyle. I wanted to go back to where it all started for me, The Boom Boom Boxing Academy. Its run by one of the best trainers in the South of England, Mark Myers. The Portsmouth gym is still changing lives and not much has changed.

The kids session was packed. The sparring was safe and very technical. Everyone wore head guards and mouth pieces. No one got hurt but everyone enjoyed it. These children were being taught Pugilism in the correct way. When the Trainer said “listen”, you could have heard a pin drop.

I asked a few Children and Adults about the benefits of Boxing and what they would be doing if they weren’t in the gym.

Kai Myers, “You can only use it as self defence. You can’t go around punching people. If I wasn’t in the gym now I would probably be in my room playing the computer”.

Hayden Myers, “It’s fun. I like doing it. If I wasn’t here I would be in my Mum and Dad’s room watching a film because we’ve got a baby”.

Charlie Bruce, “It is for self defence in case someone attacks you. If I was at home I would be coding my computer”.

Joe Myers, “It helps my fitness and makes me eat better. I’m better behaved. I would be playing the computer with my friends if I wasn’t here tonight”.

Thomas Walker, “It’s made me stronger, fitter and I believe in myself. I know that I can defend myself if I’m in danger. When I’m not here I’m out with mates messing around”.

Dale Grant, “Down to a base level Its kept me out of trouble. When my Dad died I started selling drugs but this has given me the discipline I needed. We aren’t here to get hurt and people with bad intentions don’t come Boxing because they don’t like discipline. If I didn’t find boxing I would be selling and smoking weed and hanging around with the wrong people”.

https://www.facebook.com/Boom-Boom-Boxing-Academy-



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