The Legality of Boxing

[CaptainUppercut]

My first post, so bear with me here. I'm a fella who'll get into boxing either when its a massive fight or when there's a British fella in with a world title shot, so not the massive-est fan by any means, but I know a fair bit I guess.

Now, under pretty much any other circumstance in society, punching someone would be classed as a criminal act.

Whilst reading the paper t'other day, I noticed that the FIFA ('soccers' world governing body) President was blathering on about how dangerous tackles with intent should be investigated by the criminal justice system as a 'crime', just as any other common assault would be.

Anyway, to stop some blathering, there was a quote from one of the world's leading sports lawyers which said something like:

"I know of no football prosecutions, but there have been in boxing."

Does anyone know anything about these cases, what they were, who was involved?

Should there be any criminal liability in boxing? What about for actions outside the rules of boxing (ie Tyson sampling Holyfield's earlobes?)?

[LondonRingRules]

Anyway, to stop some blathering, there was a quote from one of the world's leading sports lawyers which said something like:

"I know of no football prosecutions, but there have been in boxing."

Does anyone know anything about these cases, what they were, who was involved?

Should there be any criminal liability in boxing? What about for actions outside the rules of boxing (ie Tyson sampling Holyfield's earlobes?)?

** Lawyer eh?

Has a lot to answer for causing far greater damage than boxing. Corporate fraud, politics, genocide, wars, you name it and there will be a million more lawyers involved at the top than boxers.

Recently a boxer, James Butler the name I think but could be mistaken, was convicted for assault on another boxer in the ring after the match had ended. He was later convicted for murdering boxing announcer Max Kellerman's brother.

Punching someone in self defense is not a crime any more than shooting someone in self defense is, except if you do so in the criminal's jurisdiction where the law is set against the honest citizen.

Lawyers or a pox, hard to know what came first.

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

On my first day of training, i remember my coach said..

"Mick, i want you to remember one thing. The boxing ring is one of the only place where you can be killed legally in England."

[CaptainUppercut]

** Lawyer eh?

Has a lot to answer for causing far greater damage than boxing. Corporate fraud, politics, genocide, wars, you name it and there will be a million more lawyers involved at the top than boxers.

Recently a boxer, James Butler the name I think but could be mistaken, was convicted for assault on another boxer in the ring after the match had ended. He was later convicted for murdering boxing announcer Max Kellerman's brother.

Punching someone in self defense is not a crime any more than shooting someone in self defense is, except if you do so in the criminal's jurisdiction where the law is set against the honest citizen.

Lawyers or a pox, hard to know what came first.

Like them or not, lawyers rule pretty much every aspect of our lives these days, sports and all.

Having done a casual google, Butler was indeed convicted of 'aggravated assault' after whacking his (winning) opponent (ungloved) once the decision was made. I guess it fits in with the Holyfield incident, being outside the actual laws of boxing. As a boxing fan, I find it inconcievable that a 'boxing legal' assault would be deemed illegal in courts, but as a criminology student, there's no exceptions given to boxing (or other forms of martial arts) in the law, at least in Britain anyway.

Cheers.

[StarshipTrooper]

My first post, so bear with me here. I'm a fella who'll get into boxing either when its a massive fight or when there's a British fella in with a world title shot, so not the massive-est fan by any means, but I know a fair bit I guess.

Now, under pretty much any other circumstance in society, punching someone would be classed as a criminal act.

Whilst reading the paper t'other day, I noticed that the FIFA ('soccers' world governing body) President was blathering on about how dangerous tackles with intent should be investigated by the criminal justice system as a 'crime', just as any other common assault would be.

Anyway, to stop some blathering, there was a quote from one of the world's leading sports lawyers which said something like:

"I know of no football prosecutions, but there have been in boxing."

Does anyone know anything about these cases, what they were, who was involved?

Should there be any criminal liability in boxing? What about for actions outside the rules of boxing (ie Tyson sampling Holyfield's earlobes?)?

I know of no circumstances where a boxer was prosecuted for beating up his opponent in the ring. Doesn't mean it's never happend but I certainly have never heard of a case.

Poet