Do you ever question yourself as a boxing fan?

[GlobalBox]

I must confess that on Saturday I did feel a real sadness sitting watching the fight from about the 7th onwards, having been ringside for Ingle/Botile and Eubank/Watson I have had a few occasions to question my love of this brutal game of ours. However, as many have said, we all have choices and despite there being times like this when it all seems a case of "should we" these are far outnumbered by some heroic acts of bravery, wonderful displays of ability and craft that have always kept people like us so engrossed in this wonderful sport of ours.

God Bless you Nick and much love to you and your family, stay strong and win this last fight.

[palooka]

I do question my liking and support of the sport, it is dangerous and the vast majority of the damage done manifests years later. I do admire a skilled boxer though and sometimes classic match ups do happen that are genuinely life affirming - they demonstrate great spirit and real mastery.

[stevedoc]

I do question my liking and support of the sport, it is dangerous and the vast majority of the damage done manifests years later. I do admire a skilled boxer though and sometimes classic match ups do happen that are genuinely life affirming - they demonstrate great spirit and real mastery.

every time something like this happens it does make me question is it worth it? i stopped boxing amateur when bradley stone died we were the same age and i just thought that could be me .


what's that MOD simbol palooka below your name , is there a new sheriff in town

[palooka]

Bradley was a good fighter, he'd won the London Senior ABA's in about 91; he was in the documentary Fighters and came across as being a really nice kid.

Yep, there's a new sheriff in town and I will put up with no back chat. I've got my eyes on you, Steve

[stevedoc]

Bradley was a good fighter, he'd won the London Senior ABA's in about 91; he was in the documentary Fighters and came across as being a really nice kid.

Yep, there's a new sheriff in town and I will put up with no back chat. I've got my eyes on you, Steve

can we still write about people getting bummed

[Boxerbeetle]

Bradley was a good fighter, he'd won the London Senior ABA's in about 91; he was in the documentary Fighters and came across as being a really nice kid.

Yep, there's a new sheriff in town and I will put up with no back chat. I've got my eyes on you, Steve

can we still write about people getting bummed

Ban him, palooka.

[Stuarty]

Bradley was a good fighter, he'd won the London Senior ABA's in about 91; he was in the documentary Fighters and came across as being a really nice kid.

Yep, there's a new sheriff in town and I will put up with no back chat. I've got my eyes on you, Steve

can we still write about people getting bummed

What's the forum without any sodomy?

[Mimmy]

When did you become a Mod Palooka??

[stevedoc]

When did you become a Mod Palooka??

he had to go through the casting couch

[Sklar]

When did you become a Mod Palooka??

Must be the last day or so. I saw the job advertised recently, didn't realise the money was as good as it is until I saw the advert. Full time too. Shame the company car is sign written but if your fuel's getting paid for, who cares, the wind will still blow through uour hair when the top's down I wish him all the best with it.

[palooka]

Bradley was a good fighter, he'd won the London Senior ABA's in about 91; he was in the documentary Fighters and came across as being a really nice kid.

Yep, there's a new sheriff in town and I will put up with no back chat. I've got my eyes on you, Steve

can we still write about people getting bummed

Ban him, palooka.

We can but I'm taking advice on the nonce issues, B&I is really well run in any case and the mods aren't power mad, I'm going to have to learn a fair bit - I don't want to balls it up.

[Noxy]

Yep, I question myself when something like that happens. At the same time I know I'm hooked and it won't stop me following the sport. I don't watch recorded fights though when I know one of the guys got injured, it puts me off.

[Bodyshot3]

Yes is the short answer.

I enjoyed all the build-up for the Blackwell-Eubank and wanted to see Nick put it on Chris Junior.
Sat down with a beer and yelled for Nick and 'got involved' but then felt awful as Nick started taking a pasting.

The last couple of rounds were not good viewing and watching a fit, proud and decent lad take that made me feel bad.

The Daily Telegraph's Gareth Davies was on BBC Breakfast this morning and tried to stand-up for boxing....but it felt hollow.

I will watch again and love the sport...but sometimes it does feel all wrong.

[semtexreilly]

After Saturdays events it's got me questioning myself,about getting my wee lad involved in boxing,he started coming training with me when he was around 9,now he's got a decent amateur career going for himself and all he talks about is turning pro when he's older,for me it's the hardest thing ever watching you're wee lad going to fight,and it doesn't get any easier with time,I've been thinking to myself life would mabye be easier standing in the wind and rain every Sunday watching him play football

[reggaereggae]

Yes I do. Not so much for the (thankfully) rare occasions when a fighter is hurt in a fight. But rather the long term effects.

I saw a statistic that said a pro fighter's life expectancy is 7-10 years lower than the average man...... And you have to remember the 'average male life expectancy' figure is lowered by young suicides, car crashes etc... Whereas to be included in the boxer data, you must at least have reached 24 or whatever the average turning over age is....

Regardless, The long term effects are the main worry... Dementia pugilistica, possibly Parkinson's, depression after career end.... There is a good documentary on two brothers from Seattle? I think.... A poster here posted it and it was very moving...

Ps after the Watson injury, I prayed every night for him (I was a believer at the time).... And I didn't buy Boxing News for a month, even though I was addicted to it and it was the highlight of my week .... I felt dirty for loving the sport. I was young of course.... Now - I am please that the paramedics / weight making rules have made boxing way safer for ring injuries... But ultimately long term it makes no difference to problems accrued.

For me, I know boxing is a dangerous sport and fighters understand the risk.... For me it boils down to free will.... But as a fan it's harder to justify, all fans know the best fights are back and forward ding dongs with both men being hurt....

[Nightmare Roy]

I do especially as I get older and obviously when things like this happen. I used to love fishing too went nearly every day as a kid for probably ten years, not been for years now and im not sure how I feel about it, maybe it's cruel? Funny how you think more about different things as you become an old fart.

[palooka]

After Saturdays events it's got me questioning myself,about getting my wee lad involved in boxing,he started coming training with me when he was around 9,now he's got a decent amateur career going for himself and all he talks about is turning pro when he's older,for me it's the hardest thing ever watching you're wee lad going to fight,and it doesn't get any easier with time,I've been thinking to myself life would mabye be easier standing in the wind and rain every Sunday watching him play football

It must be really difficult watching your little lad, mines getting into golf and I'm pleased, it's something I've never done but I want him to have a better life.

[Counter-puncher]

After Saturdays events it's got me questioning myself,about getting my wee lad involved in boxing,he started coming training with me when he was around 9,now he's got a decent amateur career going for himself and all he talks about is turning pro when he's older,for me it's the hardest thing ever watching you're wee lad going to fight,and it doesn't get any easier with time,I've been thinking to myself life would mabye be easier standing in the wind and rain every Sunday watching him play football

Mate it sounds like he loves it so I'm sure your support is a big thing for him, you can give him both the pros and the cons from an informed perspective so in many ways he is lucky, just carry on being there for him, it doesn't seem like you've 'pushed' him into it, so good luck to him, if his pro dream pans out great, if not he hopefully gave it a go and had you behind him all the way. Don't second guess it if its something he genuinely loves

[semtexreilly]

Yeah mate,in hindsight I'm definitely wishing I'd got him involved in another sport,but I'll always do everything in my power to help him in his boxing career if he continues to pursue it,and keep drilling into his head the name of the game is hitting and not getting hit

[littlepug]

I felt a bit bad after watching Perez beat Mago as I was willing Perez on throughout and enjoyed seeing him bash up the Russian. Afterwards after reading more about Mago, what he was like as a person and what happened to him after the fight, I did (briefly) question whether I wanted to support a sport in which two young children lost their father. There also seems to be a big problem with medical insurance and insurance to provide for a boxer and his family in the event of a career ending injury - this should really be part of the promotional costs, whether it is taken from the fighters purse is a separate matter but it should definitely be compulsory.

I think you just have to look at these things as tragedies, which can happen in any sport. I'm also a big horse racing fan, another sport where both the jockies and horses are exposed to severe dangers. Ultimately boxers know the risks involved. They are not forced to do it. The bigger problem is what to do in fights where a fighter is taking a sustained beating and the referee and his corner allow a guy to finish the fight on his feet to save pride when all it is doing is putting his life at risk.

the perez fight also bothered me, there just didnt seem to be enough medical care on hand in the venue which is unforgivable, the other thing that got to me was the fact that it was a klitchko promotion and Wlad was ringside but he felt no need to help Mago (not that he has to) in a finacial sense, just thought a bit of "we are in this together" attitude could have been shown, instead the poor sod is physicaly helpless and living in poverty

[Counter-puncher]

Yeah mate,in hindsight I'm definitely wishing I'd got him involved in another sport,but I'll always do everything in my power to help him in his boxing career if he continues to pursue it,and keep drilling into his head the name of the game is hitting and not getting hit

Good man. Have him practising headslips 24/7 if it makes you feel better

How old is he if you don't mind me asking?

[palooka]

Much like McClellan.

[littlepug]

Much like McClellan.

yep, in fact theres probably a long list of "forgotten" fighters suffering in silence

[semtexreilly]

He's just turned 15 mate he won the Scottish championships a fortnight ago,he's in a box off this Sunday with another laddie to see who goes in for the British next month,it's gonna be another long week

[Counter-puncher]

Good for him. There's still plenty of time for him to discover girls and all the rest of it then mate, and if he sticks at it but doesn't make his dream, hes already achieved things he can look back on with pride in his later life. Not only that, but the discipline and work ethic of boxing is a lesson that will be good for him whatever he ends up doing in life

Let us know how the box off goes and good luck to him

War Little Semtex!