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ISSUE 19 | NOV 2014 |
25
more transparent. No one should be surprised when they get
injured boxing. Boxing broadcaster Jim Lampley says that boxers
“understand what they do. Fighters are more in the clear than
any other athlete on the risks they take. Is it a blood-curdling
risk? Yes it is...but they know. They know from the beginning.
And I don’t think that’s true of hockey players or football
players.”
Very few boxers resent the brain injuries that may have
come from boxing. They know the risks and they accept
them. Even those badly injured in the ring continue
working in the sport in some capacity. Presumably
they accept the risk and acknowledge all the
positives that the sport has brought into their lives.
So if boxing is here to stay, how can it be made
safer? Mullan suggests a physician be present
at all matches, and should have the authority
to stop a bout if he or she is convinced that
a boxer is suffering heavy concussion or
other injury that has long term effects.
Speed is essential with brain injuries;
so all bouts should have access to
ambulance services and adjacent
hospitals. And in line with modern
advances into the dangers of
concussions, boxers should be
kept over night for testing, and
provided with longer periods
between fights.
Boxing has a huge global
audience and it is not going
away. Medical professional
bodies need to do their
best to ensure that
fighters continue to be
screened effectively
before and after
matches.