BoxRec

Just wondering ?

Sparring for years and fighting for years as a amateur and pro.

During that time - you must take alot of blows even if you are defensively very good.

What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

Got to a gym at 10 years old - start sparring - start fighting amateur for 10 years - turn professional at 20 years old - have a good career - fight at world level - against some real hard punching men - retire at 35 years old.

Thats 25 years of taking punches - but what effect will this have on a human being ?

FLINT ISLAND wrote:Just wondering ?

Sparring for years and fighting for years as a amateur and pro.

During that time - you must take alot of blows even if you are defensively very good.

What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

For every Ali you have Jake LaMotta, for every Chacon you have Danny Lopez...

FLINT ISLAND wrote: What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

You end up haunting a boxing forum on the web, calling yourself Flint Island, and posting irrelevent nonsense that serves only to highlight an unhealthy obsession with Welsh boxers and David Haye.
You attempt to break this habit by popping outside into your garden every now and then, but find yourself irresistibly drawn to your garden shed, where you gaze upon poor Enzo, who is trussed up like a chicken for your pleasure

I'm guessing heavyweights might be more prone to long term damage as highlighted by Muhammed Ali.

But thats because heavyweights have to face the bombs of a prime George Foreman, Joe Frazier and the terryfing power of Earnie Shavers.

Riddick Bowe seems a bit damaged these days too - and Holyfield is really pushing his luck after all these years of tough wars.

At one end of the scale, you die. At the other, you suffer no ill consequences to speak of.

Usually it's somewhere in between to varying degrees.

I'm not taking the p - this is true.

In fairness it's not gonna do anyone any good, boxing is a dangerous sport, there is no getting away from that however you dress it up.

"99.99 % of boxers get used and abused and disfigured" - Chris Eubank.

Coco wrote:In fairness it's not gonna do anyone any good, boxing is a dangerous sport, there is no getting away from that however you dress it up.

Whats the worst injury you suffered in your time boxing coco ?

FLINT ISLAND wrote:

Coco wrote:In fairness it's not gonna do anyone any good, boxing is a dangerous sport, there is no getting away from that however you dress it up.

Whats the worst injury you suffered in your time boxing coco ?

I've been pretty lucky, just broke my nose and hand a few time and a couple of cuts. My head feels pretty good, hopefully i've had no long term damage

It always seems to be black men you hear of having problems. Anything from lisp to mental problems.

Taking punches to the head does you no good, it simply kills brain cells. But usually a fighter who can roll with the punches, can keep themselves out of getting serious damage. Concussion has to do the worst damage, is it true that once a fighter has been concussed its easier to happen again?

Sometimes we are sad to see a fighter retire but its good if they get out with their brain in tact. Plenty of boxers with slured speach. You never know if someone's brain damage is boxing or drug/alcohol related though

It actually makes Floyd Mayweather's careful management, and careful defense, very understandable. As a youth he witnessed his uncles getting knocked out and losing their faculties, its bound to make a boxer more cautious

On that note I hope Roy Jones retires soon

carlbcfc wrote:It always seems to be black men you hear of having problems. Anything from lisp to mental problems.

The Quarrys?

billy bessey wrote: dunno if its true probably not but im sure i read once that if your a boxer your life expectancy is ten yrs less than anybody elses. in the same story it said if your left handed you live ten yrs less aswell so if this is true and theres any southpaws reading this i guess your pretty much fooked

Priceless

Deserter wrote:

FLINT ISLAND wrote: What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

You end up haunting a boxing forum on the web, calling yourself Flint Island, and posting irrelevent nonsense that serves only to highlight an unhealthy obsession with Welsh boxers and David Haye.
You attempt to break this habit by popping outside into your garden every now and then, but find yourself irresistibly drawn to your garden shed, where you gaze upon poor Enzo, who is trussed up like a chicken for your pleasure

You might take the mickey out of the boxing shed - but Coco knows the boxing shed well.

Its been there years and years - since the world war. Its a good little gym - Colin Jones trained there from 9 years old.

Enzo Macc is from a different gym totally - I think he trained at his fathers gym in a different part of swansea. As a pro training for the likes of David Haye fight, etc he obviosuly he trained as part of the Calzaghe camp in Newbridge.

With little hitler - Enzo Calzaghe barking out orders - and running up and down steps.

I think it's common sense to say any repetition of purposely damaging blows to any part of the body are detrimental, and the worst place to probably get hit all the time is the brain as this is the main organ in the body that all the other organs rely on.

I think most boxers will mentally suffer some slow down, loss of cognition and detriment in their older age, compared to if they didn't box. But also there is the fact that generally professional boxers spend their lives fitter then the average bloke, so what life they may loose due to brain trauma, may gain back due to general body fitness and lifestyle choices, as professional sportsmen generally have healthier, hearts, lungs and livers at an older age compared to Joe Bloggs.

Boxing is a dangerous sport not only because of direct blows to the brain, but other mental strains and inflictions that come from professional life. Such as depression, problems with controlling self grandeur and then expected to be violent/physical professionally in the ring, but yet have to switch it off when not in the right.

I appreciate anyone who dedicates to a fighting sport, as mental composure and dedication is more important then physical, and that's the hardest part.

I dont think its just its a dangerous sport.

Forumla One is probaly more dangerous.

Its the nature of the sport - its brutal - the intention and purpose is to try and destroy each other with punches.

I think you'll find more people die playing Rugby throughout the world annually than in the sport of boxing over a decade.. not to mention terrible injuries to legs, arms and in particular spines and necks, that can end in paralysis.

Football is also a source of heart attacks. Domestically and professionally, across the world, many a man has croaked it. Either through heart problems or have been knocked out cold, swallowed their tongue and have had insufficient medical people nearby to deal with it.

Mathematically though, there are a 1,000 team players to every boxer of any standing... so not sure if the above are more dangerous as a % of participants or not.

bennie wrote:

carlbcfc wrote:It always seems to be black men you hear of having problems. Anything from lisp to mental problems.

The Quarrys?

Got a point. Does the fact they were brothers hint at some form of underlying connection?


The answer: 2oz gloves, quicker KO's, more KO's, less damage!


While your at it you might as will bring in cage, and allow kicking

Two fighters for you.........

Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton

Both started boxing at the same time and effectively retired at the same time, both world champions etc etc

Who would you but your money on, having some form of brain damage and slurred speech etc, in say 20 years time ?

I know who my money would be on !!

There is your answer.......

You should be able to work out from those few lines, what the key aspect is in boxing that ultimately makes the difference between retiring relatively undamged from the ring.....and not !!!

If you can't then you either fought Joe Frazier in your prime..............or your a bit thick

FLINT ISLAND wrote:

Deserter wrote:

FLINT ISLAND wrote: What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

You end up haunting a boxing forum on the web, calling yourself Flint Island, and posting irrelevent nonsense that serves only to highlight an unhealthy obsession with Welsh boxers and David Haye.
You attempt to break this habit by popping outside into your garden every now and then, but find yourself irresistibly drawn to your garden shed, where you gaze upon poor Enzo, who is trussed up like a chicken for your pleasure

You might take the mickey out of the boxing shed - but Coco knows the boxing shed well.

Its been there years and years - since the world war. Its a good little gym - Colin Jones trained there from 9 years old.

Enzo Macc is from a different gym totally - I think he trained at his fathers gym in a different part of swansea. As a pro training for the likes of David Haye fight, etc he obviosuly he trained as part of the Calzaghe camp in Newbridge.

With little hitler - Enzo Calzaghe barking out orders - and running up and down steps.

I'm sure Enzo Calzaghe will be glad to hear he has been likened to Hitler.

terrez wrote:I think it's common sense to say any repetition of purposely damaging blows to any part of the body are detrimental, and the worst place to probably get hit all the time is the brain as this is the main organ in the body that all the other organs rely on.

I think most boxers will mentally suffer some slow down, loss of cognition and detriment in their older age, compared to if they didn't box. But also there is the fact that generally professional boxers spend their lives fitter then the average bloke, so what life they may loose due to brain trauma, may gain back due to general body fitness and lifestyle choices, as professional sportsmen generally have healthier, hearts, lungs and livers at an older age compared to Joe Bloggs.

Boxing is a dangerous sport not only because of direct blows to the brain, but other mental strains and inflictions that come from professional life. Such as depression, problems with controlling self grandeur and then expected to be violent/physical professionally in the ring, but yet have to switch it off when not in the right.

I appreciate anyone who dedicates to a fighting sport, as mental composure and dedication is more important then physical, and that's the hardest part.

Good post! Particularly the part on mental health! This to me is the reason for so many 'come backs'! The high of fighting is an addiction that is hard to leave.
Short term memory loss is also a common problem!

billy bessey wrote:

FLINT ISLAND wrote:Just wondering ?

Sparring for years and fighting for years as a amateur and pro.

During that time - you must take alot of blows even if you are defensively very good.

What are the long term consequences of getting punched in the face and head over a period of maybe 25 years ?

Got to a gym at 10 years old - start sparring - start fighting amateur for 10 years - turn professional at 20 years old - have a good career - fight at world level - against some real hard punching men - retire at 35 years old.

Thats 25 years of taking punches - but what effect will this have on a human being ?

dunno if its true probably not but im sure i read once that if your a boxer your life expectancy is ten yrs less than anybody elses. in the same story it said if your left handed you live ten yrs less aswell so if this is true and theres any southpaws reading this i guess your pretty much fooked

Hahahaha. Looks like im Fooked then