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I also don't think boxing is especially 'violent' but people do get hurt. I used to box competitively on a college team (NCBA) and almost every fighter on the t

I also don't think boxing is especially 'violent' but people do get hurt. I used to box competitively on a college team (NCBA) and almost every fighter on the team above ~140lbs had had at least one concussion, with the frequency of concussion increasing with the weight of the fighter. The coaches took every precaution with headgear and sparring only with 20oz gloves, and official fights had doctors ringside, but the rate of concussions was still insane. The personality changes can be drastic in the short/long term and several teammates mentioned failing exams days after their fight. I really miss it but won't ever compete again because I'm afraid of the long-term risks. The ironic thing is, getting hit in the body always hurt less for me than a head-shot.

kevinmchugh 8y ago
Headgear makes head trauma more likely by increasing the size of the target
- miranda_rights 8y ago
  That's true. I've also heard that it increases trauma by making a hit hurt less, because the fighter is able to keep going instead of being bothered by more superficial issues (e.g. cuts/bleeding).
  - kqr 8y ago
    That is essentially why boxers wear gloves. In no-gloves boxing, the head is rarely a target because it hurts the hands so bad. But the audience likes to see knockouts, sp gloves come on. I find it distasteful to design a sport around giving a person a knock on the head hard enough that their brain releases control over their body for a while.
    - sacado2 8y ago
      Doesn't hurt that much if you punch correctly (and they don't teach that in boxing classes because you always wear gloves), but very dangerous if you don't punch correctly (as in broken wrist, meaning the fight is over for you - not a good idea in a real fight - and anyway you will be handicapped for several weeks). But then, open-palm strikes are very effective and virtually riskless for the attacker. If you are good at it, you can at the same time strike the opponent's chin and put your fingers in his eyes, but here we are obviously way out of sport's territory and way into aggressive self-defense / violent street fight.

kevinmchugh 8y ago

Headgear makes head trauma more likely by increasing the size of the target

miranda_rights 8y ago
That's true. I've also heard that it increases trauma by making a hit hurt less, because the fighter is able to keep going instead of being bothered by more superficial issues (e.g. cuts/bleeding).
- kqr 8y ago
  That is essentially why boxers wear gloves. In no-gloves boxing, the head is rarely a target because it hurts the hands so bad. But the audience likes to see knockouts, sp gloves come on. I find it distasteful to design a sport around giving a person a knock on the head hard enough that their brain releases control over their body for a while.
  - sacado2 8y ago
    Doesn't hurt that much if you punch correctly (and they don't teach that in boxing classes because you always wear gloves), but very dangerous if you don't punch correctly (as in broken wrist, meaning the fight is over for you - not a good idea in a real fight - and anyway you will be handicapped for several weeks). But then, open-palm strikes are very effective and virtually riskless for the attacker. If you are good at it, you can at the same time strike the opponent's chin and put your fingers in his eyes, but here we are obviously way out of sport's territory and way into aggressive self-defense / violent street fight.