Comments Thread For: Investigation: Is sparring boxing?s secret killer?

[BoxingUpdates]

Any well-trained boxer will tell you that, come fight night, the hard work has already been done. The contest, for however long it lasts, should be easy by comparison to the weeks and months of grind in the gym...
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[sullymin]

Absolutely! Success in the ring comes from the countless hours of training behind the scenes—fight night is just the final test SoFlo Wheelie Life

[shadowleeks]

Sparring isn’t a “secret killer,” but it can be the biggest source of long-term damage in a boxer’s career. Fighters accumulate far more repeated head impacts in the gym than in actual fights, especially during hard, frequent sparring sessions. Most experts agree that poorly controlled sparring, too much intensity, and too many rounds increase the risk of chronic brain injuries.

When sparring is properly supervised, limited in volume, and focused on technique rather than wars in the gym, the risks drop significantly. The issue isn’t sparring itself—it's how it’s done.

Doodle Baseball

[steeve steel]

So i guess all contact sports should stop practising before the game... Ridiculous. You either ban boxing because it is a brutal sport that leaves serious medical after-effects, or you let the boxers do their training.

[TyrantT316]

I wonder how many non boxers will respond by saying "this is utterly rediculous!"

Anyway, I agree with what was mentioned above that it may be more about HOW it's done. I can only assume that sparring is arguably the best way for fighters to prepare for an opponent that hits back, moves, slips, muscles, feints, clinches, etc. Heavy bags and pads don't prepare you for that.

HOWEVER, I think the problem is more about whether sparring sessions are gym wars vs. skill prep. JUst because it's the way it has always been done, that may not mean it should always stay the same. I just wonder how many careers are shortened because of head punishment in sparring.

[lilacp]

No one is saying that sparring should be abolished. It's about having the best understanding possible of all the health risks involved when being seriously hurt in sparring and how to take that into consideration when a boxer is fighting soon after that. Boxing and medical science should work together as much as possible because, unlike any other sport, the athletes are putting their life on the line, even when they are sparring.

This also underscores the deep need for developing structures for long-term economic support for boxers, in the same way that athletes in football and other major sports do.

To the miserable people who say, oh, that's their choice, I say, well, of course it's their choice (to a degree, because the career opportunities poor people have are actually limited); it's your choice too to have whatever job you have, but you also have the right not to be exploited and be able to have a flourishing life doing whatever you do, be it a mechanic, a teacher, or an business owner. But unlike you, boxers risk their lives every time they enter the ring, and they deserve to receive support for that.

[HENNY]

No, but sparring like an idiot is. "DOG HOUSE" type sparring specifically lol

[PRINCEKOOL]

So i guess all contact sports should stop practising before the game... Ridiculous. You either ban boxing because it is a brutal sport that leaves serious medical after-effects, or you let the boxers do their training.

Yes. From a compassionate and empathic perspective, I understand? Why articles like this are written.

It does not take a rocket scientist to understand, that combat sports are dangerous 'the ultimate aim of the sports, is to render your opponent incapable of defending themselves. This is achieved by ether knocking fighters out, or inflicting a critical level of damage upon them. Very simple and straight forward'.

Note: All athletes in many sports, all practice their sports 'Training is a method to improve performance, but also simulate competition'.

Motor racing is dangerous, guess what? In practice they still drive their cars at 100 + miles per hour 'because that is what it takes to be the best motor sports drivers they can be'.

People within the boxing community need to accept, that boxing is never going to be a completely safe sport 'the day it becomes completely safe, is the day boxing no longer exists. Because that form of combat sports, will be no different from being a reality computer game where? The hits don't really count, and you can lose and suddenly just reset the game'.

So is sparring the biggest secret danger in boxing no? Because it is commonsense that any combat sports activity is dangerous, fighters need to condition themselves for combat 'and by putting themselves in combat situations will condition them'.

To conclude: The only thing fighters can do to negate the dangers 'is to plan and estimate how much sparring they really need. Does an elite level fighter in my opinion, need to be sparring all year round 24/7? No. Once a fighter has reached a certain level, I personally think sparring should only be a part of their major training camps'.

Certain professions at the highest level are more lucrative because of the expertise or danger 'Boxers are admired, because the courage they show in a extremely dangerous sport. In all honesty? We all watch boxing because it is a competitive sport, which is dangerous. Otherwise boxing would not be the attraction and spectacle that it has been throughout the centuries'.

The more and more they dilute the sport, great they may make the sport safer 'but they will also be destroying the sport. And that is an absolute fact' etc.

[Nash out]

Nobody needs to spar anyway. No trainer either, just a cuts man. Just turn up on the night and fight. Nash out - His Majesty

[BoxingFanBoxingFan]

So i guess all contact sports should stop practising before the game... Ridiculous. You either ban boxing because it is a brutal sport that leaves serious medical after-effects, or you let the boxers do their training.

My God, man, it would be nice if you ACTUALLY READ the article before making such ridiculous statements! No one is advocating for fighters to stop sparring, but for it to be done responsibly! The whole point of the article is that 80-100% of fighter injuries take place DURING SPARRING!

Drive by comments like yours are really toxic and add no value. PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING.