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Boxing Should be Modified

1975; BMJ; Volume: 9; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/bjsm.9.3.155

1473-0480

B. L. A. Hemachandra,

Doping in Sports

At one time, deviant behaviour in boxers was attributed to their aggressive personalities rather than to repetitive minor brain damage, but this view is changing, following work by such as H. S. Martland and N. Corsellis.I have reliable information of a Sri Lankan boxer who tried to murder his wife and is now certified insane.Floyd Patterson was admitted to hospital concussed after his defeat by Sonny Liston; Benny Kid Paraet died in coma after a knock-out by Emil Griffiths; Carmino Vingo had to retire with permanent brain damage after defeat by Rocky Marciano.Partly as a result of these severe injuries in PROFESSIONAL boxing, the very different AMATEUR sport is becoming much less popular all over the world, and is far less popular in Sri Lankan schools.Boxing, however, is still a most popular sport from the spectators' viewpoint, and is a sport that attracts a great deal of money throughout most of the world.It is one of the few ways open to boys from a poor background, especially in the U.S.A., Cuba and parts of Africa with a large population of African descent, to find a way of making a successful career.It would therefore be tragic if this type of activity were to cease.