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Boxing and brain damage: boxing safe?

Fergus Garrett, Suva.

Of all sports boxing is the most ‘violent’. There is no question about the aims of the contestants. Each will try to disable the other by the ultimate blow to the head, causing concussion, and unconsciousness: the ‘knockout’. More modern versions and exaggerations such as kick boxing, MMA, UFC, etc. are even more dangerous.

What exactly is “concussion”? Concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and the brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around, crashing into the skull bone or twisting in the skull. This creates chemical changes in the brain, sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells or causing bleeding and blood clots. Blood clots cut off the blood supply to a part of the brain and the brain cells die. The effects of a concussion can be serious and permanent, but may not appear until some days, weeks or even months later. Every blow to the head will cause some degree of damage, and the damage will increase as boxers continue to fight. That is why every year 10-15 boxers die from concussion, either in the ring or soon after. Concussion is a risk in many sports, but boxing is the only one where injury, especially brain damage, is the aim of the participants.

Watching violence and “blood sports” is exciting for many people, and that makes boxing so popular. It is a pity that the spectators are not thinking of the constant attacks on brains of the contestants and the consequent damage being done. Cock fighting and dog fighting are banned in most countries, but not “man fighting”.

The administrators of contact sports such as rugby, rugby league and American football, are trying to find ways to reduce the violence experienced in tackling.

When a fast running ball-carrier is tackled he comes to a sudden stop, at which time his brain crashes into the skull bone, resulting in concussion. Small but repeated incidents can build up to dangerous levels of brain damage. In some countries children playing soccer are not allowed to head the ball because of the danger of damaging young brains.

But in boxing, violent blows to the head are encouraged. How many Fijian boxers are suffering from brain damage today? They don’t know, because a brain scan is required to check.

Can we save our youngsters from this dangerous so-called “sport”?