How dangerous is boxing?

Dave!

hey folks,

I was planning on taking up boxing at some stage during college, not serious or anything, just for fun. But I've been thinking recently, sports like vale tudo, and other MMA's allow for holds, locks, and other ways to win a fight, whereas with boxing, the fights spend almost the whole thing punching each other in the head, and shaking their brain around. I mean, it's the most important part of our body, and for the whole fight it has a big bullseye on it!
In MMA's, you can get a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, or a shattered fist, but most of the injuries are relatively surperficial and will be repaired in time. Whereas in boxing, you get a broken nose or a cut on your eye, but you don't actually see the extent of the damage until it's too late.

Would you consider boxing a very dangerous sport? How likely are you to recieve brain damage as a result of it?

Thanks!

ps. I'm not a wuss , but it's just been in my head lately that it seems a really crazy sport

Big Ears

I would not consider amateur boxing that dangerous a sport(despite the headgear really only protecting against cuts and not brain damage) .

The short duration of bouts and the ultra cautiousness of referee's aswell as the skills and speed being the only style employed by most boxers mean ir isn't anymore dangerous than playing rugby .

Proffesional however is dangerous , the longer distance of the fight aswell as many other factors make it one of the most dangerous sports there is .

GOAT_Ali

I would consider amateur boxing to be a very safe and regulated sport. Fair enough, the object is to KO or beat your opponent for 4 rds and mostly about the head, but compared to Rugby or even Steeple chase I'd say it's a doddle. I'd prefer it, at least all you gotta worry about is punches, in Rugby it's the whole damn lot....

efb

If you were going to take it up in college I strongly recommend it and wish you all the best.

Boxing at amateur level is a safe and strictly regulated sport.

If you are boxing for the first time the college is excellant as you have alot of guys in the same boat as yourself(Same age profile and experience). And if you still love it after college you can join a club and take it from there.

LikeOhMyGawd!

Boxing is a safe sport in my opinion. The likes of soccer or similar sports are magnitudes greater in terms of injuries sustained and risk to the participant. If you are doing boxing just for fun I can't see the sparring sessions getting too hard-core in any case. I think worst thing that can routinely happen is a thumb in the eye or a detached retina. Brain damage is probably only going to be sustained as a result of repeated super heavy batterings. Up at UCD I've seen a few boyos do what looked like boxing:rolleyes: and the worst they might encounter is tripping on their shoe laces. In fact, I think one guy turned up late as he got trapped in a wet paper bag.

Big Ears

Elytron wrote:

MMA at that level isn't much safer. Don't go with mma.

I fixed your post .

johnathan woss

"Up at UCD I've seen a few boyos do what looked like boxing and the worst they might encounter is tripping on their shoe laces."

Likeohmygawd, if you're a good boxer and studying in UCD why don't you train in UCD, even once a week?
Good sparring would improve the lads there.

walshb

Elytron, I'd have to say boxing would seem safer. At least I would prefer to do it than this MMA. At least in boxing all you mainly are concerned with is avoiding punches. MMA is knees, kicks and Judo as well as some very awkward falls and tumbles. I'd say you would come out with more injuries on average in MMA. Rugby and soccer too pose more injury worries than boxing. I know boxing is dedicated to inflicting hurt on your opponent to head and body, but the guys are so trained and conditioned. The chances say of breaking your leg or neck in boxing are much slimmer than would be the case in Rugby or soccer

walshb

Hey Elytron, another curse was damn rope burn. God that was painful. I suppose I'd just rather worry about punches as opposed to awkward falls and ankle breaks, leg breaks and horrible submission moves. Sports like Rugger, soccer, Judo and even horse racing over the jumps accounts for so many diferent type of injuries. Boxing is usually as you say, black eyes, cut eyes and busted lips. The brain injuries are far less common, though still a threat