Comments Thread For: Jacobs: Was 'Devastating' to See Stevens Knocked Cold By Lemieux

[Corelone]

You're missing a point.

Deaths in all the other sports are a by-product. Number of deaths can be decreased with improved safety and technological advances.

Deaths in boxing are a direct consequence of the sport itself. If the aim of the fight is to render a fighter unable to stand up for 10 seconds by punching him in the head, essentially damaging the other fighter, then there's only so much you can do to make the sport safer.

12 high school football death per year. Getting dressed with armor to run over somebody is worse in a way.

[observer]

You sound like you want to control how I react to a KO. Why are you bothered by that?

Same way I'd be bothered by someone eating a stake and crying for cows. Logical inconsistency. "My heart goes out to Stevens' mom, but a great KO!"

[observer]

You mentioned the commentators but failed to realize that their comments were at the time of the KO, not the somber moments after the KO where anyone with a heart would feel concern for the fallen warrior.

And that's exactly what gets on my nerves. This human unwillingness to link cause and effect. As if the KO and the risks of damage are two different things. The pinnacle of this was Max Kellerman saying that usually people get permanent damage when they get beaten up over 12 rounds, not from a quick KO. If he really believed it, he would have said it with a smile on his face.

[Floydushka]

That was a very sweet left hook. I loved it. Watched it several times.

[Floydushka]

Jacobs wins by decision.

Yeah, you're almost absolutely right. Just not Jacobs but Golovkin. And just not by decision but KO.

[Verus]

You're missing a point.

Deaths in all the other sports are a by-product. Number of deaths can be decreased with improved safety and technological advances.

Deaths in boxing are a direct consequence of the sport itself. If the aim of the fight is to render a fighter unable to stand up for 10 seconds by punching him in the head, essentially damaging the other fighter, then there's only so much you can do to make the sport safer.

I understand the point, but it is a distinction without a real difference. Dead is dead! Does boxing pose a greater risk to life and limb than every other sport? Perhaps not. It is a discussion worth having.

[SteveM]

Same way I'd be bothered by someone eating a stake and crying for cows. Logical inconsistency. "My heart goes out to Stevens' mom, but a great KO!"

Who are you talking to exactly? There are not that many boxing fans who don't recognise the dangers. I do. I'm guessing that many on NSB do. Boxers can and do die in that ring. They know it, their families most likely know it and we know it. No need to preach.

[observer]

Who are you talking to exactly? There are not that many boxing fans who don't recognise the dangers. I do. I'm guessing that many on NSB do. Boxers can and do die in that ring. They know it, their families most likely know it and we know it. No need to preach.

Sorry, I guess I am doing a bad job of explaining myself.

To me someone who truly understands what boxing is won't write that he's sorry for Stevens' mom. Or will write smth like "sorry to see her suffer, unfortunately that's the dark side of boxing we have to live with". As in a way by being boxing fans we are all responsible for her suffering too. We made her cry by being part of the tradition that sees thousands of men paying money to see one man punch another, and sometimes even kill. When you intentionally cause suffering to another person it would be strange if you then went out of your way to show your compassion. It's more honest to say that it's a sacrifice that comes with the territory.

[SteveM]

Sorry, I guess I am doing a bad job of explaining myself.

To me someone who truly understands what boxing is won't write that he's sorry for Stevens' mom. Or will write smth like "sorry to see her suffer, unfortunately that's the dark side of boxing we have to live with". As in a way by being boxing fans we are all responsible for her suffering too. We made her cry by being part of the tradition that sees thousands of men paying money to see one man punch another, and sometimes even kill. When you intentionally cause suffering to another person it would be strange if you then went out of your way to show your compassion. It's more honest to say that it's a sacrifice that comes with the territory.

I was on the same page as you with the bolded.

"As in a way by being boxing fans we are all responsible for her suffering too." Disagree. She suffered that night. But I wasn't responsible for her going to the event - she was. Plus as a parent she could have dissuaded Curtis from boxing. If she couldn't or he had decided to go pro as an adult then she was not responsible for his actions. She gets to decide if she will suffer. I am not heartless, just pointing out that there are too many factors at play to be able to say I am responsible for her suffering.

Who is intentionally causing suffering? It is not intentional. There are so many factors at play here. If pro boxing didn't exist there'd be illegal barefist fights taking place. Plus you have to weigh the benefits of boxing against the negatives; you must have read how many boxers say boxing saved them because all their childhood friends are dead or in jail??

[observer]

I was on the same page as you with the bolded.

"As in a way by being boxing fans we are all responsible for her suffering too." Disagree. She suffered that night. But I wasn't responsible for her going to the event - she was.

OK, the right word is not responsible but complicit. We create the demand. When you buy a chicken sandwich you're not killing the chicken. But you create the conditions for a chicken to be killed.

Who is intentionally causing suffering? It is not intentional. There are so many factors at play here.

Sure, as Lemieux said, 'I only want them unconscious for 10 seconds'. It's just that you can't control if a person will be unconscious for 10 seconds or never wake up.

Plus you have to weigh the benefits of boxing against the negatives; you must have read how many boxers say boxing saved them because all their childhood friends are dead or in jail??

And that's exactly what allowed me to make peace with boxing. As I said in my earlier post, today net contribution of boxing is positive, the key word here being 'today'. So I watch boxing and entertain my inner neanderthal, knowing that even if one person suffers or dies many more will be saved. Stevens' mother's tears are a part of the big picture.

Lemieux seems like a nice guy. I am sure he'd be trying to help if someone next to him was hit by a car. But he didn't look at Stevens on the floor, and I understand that - I actually think boxers trying to 'make sure the other guy is OK' are doing it for the public to see. He's not OK, he's been hit and he's unconscious. And Lemieux put him there. Let the professionals take care of him now.

I could do with a bit less celebrating on Lemieux' part though...