Comments Thread For: Making The Sport Safer: Standing 8 Counts and Early Stoppages

[Arma316]

PEDs. They’re just way too out of control in the sport.

Also fighters not fighting in their proper weight classes plays a role.

[smeck]

The "Standing Three" count.

THREE is enough.

Think of the count of three in the bogus world of Pro Wrestling. You got three seconds to get your shoulders off the mat.

THREE seconds is enough to warn a fighter, "You look like you're in trouble, don't be surprised if I'm stopping this."

Limit it to only two warnings in a round.

I think the main problem with early stoppages is the fighter whining and protesting that he wasn't given a chance. Standing THREE gives that chance, but it doesn't drag it out to EIGHT seconds of recovery.

We know that fatalities often come in the late rounds and when a fighter is tired. Giving standing 8's might only prolong the fight and compromise the fighter.

Standing 3. It also might not be a bad idea to announce the judges' score cards every 3 rounds. 3rd, 6th and 9th, so that nobody's suddenly moaning about a bad decision.

[Pound4PoundStud]

No pls don't do that. There will be even more corruption in the sport. The boxers know the risk. Stop it

We don't need the standing 8 count back but referees do need the authority to stop fights earlier, especially when the action is very one-sided.

Perhaps one standing 8 count apiece or something but it is clear that something has to be done. There will be no perfect solution but new safety rules must be put in place.

[jbpanama]

Are these idiots serious about stopping the action when a fighter gets hurt so that he can survive and take a more prolonged beating? Standing 8 counts isn’t helping anyone.

Or The Cat that gets the Count might Comeback

and Kick some Ass Himself...as often happens...

Gives the Ref the chance to get a good look...At the damage...

[YoungManRumble]

As dumb as it sounds, smaller gloves will make the sport safer. Bigger and more padded gloves allow fighters to take more of a beating. And the 49 lb weight dehydration these fighters do isn’t helping. Truthfully, the statement of making boxing safer is an oxymoron. It a sport fighters get punched in the face for 30+ minutes

Yeah more padding in gloves is just going to result in longer sustained beatings. It would protect their hands more and still transfer that concussive force evenly to their opponents skull.

[-Hyperion-]

LOL, boxing can't even regulate the two things that destroy the concept of a fair match that gives it any meaning....PEDs and mismatches. Might as well just ban the sport...or stop being hypocrites and admit most participants have free will. Under capitalism, the idea of fighting their way out of poverty is too attractive for many. If money is not a problem, the need for recognition or genuine love for the art will still find a way to form an organized fighting discipline. Humans are not victimized without agency like bulls in bullfighting...the only thing that would really thin out boxing is massive wealth redistribution in favor of the poor around the world.

[Oregonian]

LOL, boxing can't even regulate the two things that destroy the concept of a fair match that gives it any meaning....PEDs and mismatches. Might as well just ban the sport...or stop being hypocrites and admit most participants have free will. Under capitalism, the idea of fighting their way out of poverty is too attractive for many. If money is not a problem, the need for recognition or genuine love for the art will still find a way to form an organized fighting discipline. Humans are not victimized without agency like bulls in bullfighting...the only thing that would really thin out boxing is massive wealth redistribution in favor of the poor around the world.

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Agree. Truer words have never been spoken.

[Ajvar]

I think a S8C isnt a great idea, outside of the times a fight is ended during the S8C, cuz what you are doing most of the time is ending brain trauma & maybe seeing a concussion & then sending a guy out to continue with more brain trauma or getting another concussion.
Guy gets hurt in round 2. S8C issued. Gets out of danger. In the 8th round he gets KTFO.

I see it the way that without S8KD:
- either imminent KTFO coming, not just a KD but a punch into non-resisting person...
- or referee calls TKO where fighter got hurt in a fight for nothing, where some boxers fall and have right to get up in 10 and continue for a win.

As for Cons:
- incoming KO might happen but it's not imminent plus referee will be prepared to call the fight after KD in the round.
- some risk of somewhat additional damage but it isn't comparable to the overall average damage in fights in this sport which boxers understand and accept the risk.

[Eff Pandas]

I see it the way that without S8KD:
- either imminent KTFO coming, not just a KD but a punch into non-resisting person...
- or referee calls TKO where fighter got hurt in a fight for nothing, where some boxers fall and have right to get up in 10 and continue for a win.

As for Cons:
- incoming KO might happen but it's not imminent plus referee will be prepared to call the fight after KD in the round.
- some risk of somewhat additional damage but it isn't comparable to the overall average damage in fights in this sport which boxers understand and accept the risk.

Its worse for the brain to receive damage in close proximity to previous damage is the thing. So "saving" a guy feom getting ktfo in the 2nd round with a s8c only makes the damage & liklihood of death larger when he gets ktfo in the 8th round. Thats what the science suggests anyway.

And sure boxers accept the risk, but should they have to. Should we as fans continue to accept that some boxers will die or be severely injured. I dont think the path we are on makes sense indefinitely. I think things should change. The main issue isnt should things change to me. Its what should change. And thats a ongoing debate.

[Ajvar]

Its worse for the brain to receive damage in close proximity to previous damage is the thing. So "saving" a guy feom getting ktfo in the 2nd round with a s8c only makes the damage & liklihood of death larger when he gets ktfo in the 8th round. Thats what the science suggests anyway.

Do you need a science to tell that knocking out a person who still reflects standing is not the same as knocking out a person in groggy mode, where he basically a standing body?

Now if it's fair to get up after being temporary turned off for less than 10 seconds with a fall then it's sure thing is fair to do the same for a person who is turned off but without a fall.

There is no difference in terms of trauma in those 2 cases so if you care so much for a health - go propagate stopping the fight after the KD unless it's a 'flash KD' with a 5 count!

Now if you consider S8KD to be called any time fighter got himself into a problem - that would prolong his beating and be unfair to opponent but S8KD is a must for situations where fighter's brain is knocked down but legs still somehow stands. Or in situation where fighter doesn't "provide answer" being in a block mode just so to not get an unfair loss where he wasn't KDed or KOed but referees still call the fight there.