How the Brutal Sport of Boxing Saves Many Black Lives (2024)

How the Brutal Sport of Boxing Saves Many Black Lives (3)

I love boxing. I love its louder moments, two fighters matching wills and trading shots as lights shine and the crowd roars. I love the quieter ones, too: the sensation of wrapping my hands, the slightest nod of acknowledgment in the locker room after a hard session.

But maybe the thing I love most about the sport is the sound punches make — the hollow crack of a hook echoing through an empty gym, the thudding impact of a fist meeting soft flesh and ribs. It’s a unique kind of thunder, and in the emptiness of pandemic-era arenas, the sound is more pronounced than ever.

That was the case a few weeks ago during the card for the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition. The fights were unexpectedly competitive and hard-hitting. Although entertaining, they served as a reminder of why the fight game is often referred to as “the hurt business.”

In the undercard’s penultimate fight, former champion Badou Jack brutalized 13-fight rookie Blake McKernan with hard shots to the body and head. By the time the battle ended, McKernan’s face was a swollen mass of tender meat, a fist-sized hematoma sprouting from around his orbital bone. He showed tremendous heart in going the distance with a fighter who had gone many championship rounds — but if Jack vs. McKernan was a grueling escalation of punishment that should have stopped before the final bell, the mismatch that followed should have never seen the opening one.

Nate Robinson is not a boxer. You could argue that Jake Paul isn’t one either. But the difference even a year of serious training makes in the ring was evident, as was just how badly Robinson could have been hurt. The end came early in the second round. The looping right hand that had scored Paul the first two knockdowns of the match found its home yet again. And this time, it promptly disconnected Robinson from his senses.

A knockout is the most thrilling spectacle boxing has to offer. While watching Robinson drop to the mat — his body gracefully succumbing to gravity — excitement shot through me. But as he lay slumped in a pile of limp limbs, blood streaming from his mouth, all of my adrenaline faded. It seemed…

How the Brutal Sport of Boxing Saves Many Black Lives (2024)

FAQs

How the Brutal Sport of Boxing Saves Many Black Lives? ›

Historically, the fight game has always been an avenue for people of color and immigrants to escape poverty and oppression. It continues to be that today, remaining more accessible than its more prestigious American counterparts: basketball, football, and baseball.

Why was boxing so important to African Americans? ›

Boxing was particularly important because the ring was one of the few public arenas that sanctioned black men's use of physical force. Louis Moore points out that black fighters often defeated white opponents in mixed matches.

How is boxing a violent sport? ›

Concussions: Concussions are perhaps one of the most serious injuries that a boxer can sustain. A concussion occurs when there is a sudden impact to the head, which causes the brain to slam against the inside of the skull.

Why is boxing important to society? ›

Boxing is a sport that fosters discipline and engages individuals with goals they once considered difficult to achieve, both in and out of the ring, becoming an occupational therapy in which they work on concentration, self-confidence, self-determination, disconnect from overwhelming problems, and move away from risky ...

What are the long-term effects of boxing? ›

Some boxers encounter persistent residual cognitive and physical symptoms, such as temporary short-term memory loss, dizziness, difficulty balancing, and headaches for days or weeks following a boxing bout.

How did the Boxer Rebellion impact society? ›

The Boxer Rebellion resulted in increased foreign influence in China, not less. It also resulted in all anti-foreign groups, including the Boxers, being forcibly disbanded. It was a blow to the legitimacy of the Qing empire and may have been influential in encouraging the Chinese Revolution of 1911.

Who was the first black person to box? ›

John Arthur Johnson (March 31, 1878 – June 10, 1946), nicknamed the "Galveston Giant", was an American boxer who, at the height of the Jim Crow era, became the first black world heavyweight boxing champion (1908–1915).

What is the most violent fight sport? ›

Lethwei is considered to be one of the most brutal martial arts in the world, as the sport is practiced bareknuckle with only tape and gauze while fighters are allowed to strike with their fists, elbows, knees, and feet, and the use of headbutts is also permitted.

Is boxing a blood sport? ›

The connection with blood sports seems obvious. Indeed, many human-against-human blood sports are similar to hand-to-hand combat, whether it is boxing, wrestling, or martial arts, and many sports such as ice hockey, football, and car racing include an unofficial gladiatorial element.

Can boxing hurt you? ›

Common boxing injuries

Concussion. Nose bleeds. Lacerations. Fractures (hand, wrist, jaw, nose and ribs)

Can boxing change your life? ›

Conclusion. Boxing is a sport that offers many benefits and changes to your life. From helping you build confidence to finding your purpose and improving your discipline, boxing offers a wide range of benefits. If you enjoy the sport, start training and you'll notice positive changes in no time.

What is boxing and its benefits? ›

Boxing is a high-intensity workout that builds fitness, strength, and coordination. It's also a great calorie-burner — approximately 324 in 30 minutes. What type of exercise is boxing? Boxing is primarily a cardio exercise, but it also strengthens the muscles in the core and lower body.

Does boxing help you fight in real life? ›

Boxing training places a strong emphasis on footwork, enabling boxers to maintain balance, move swiftly, and create distance from their opponents. Being able to control your footwork in a street fight can help you avoid dangerous situations and potentially escape if necessary.

What are the negative effects of boxing? ›

Some boxers experience persistent residual cognitive and physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, balance difficulty, and memory problems for many days or weeks after a fight. This is often referred to as a “groggy state,” or more commonly the post-concussion syndrome.

Is it okay to go boxing everyday? ›

40 minutes a day is very good time period for an intermediate person but there should be rest days at least 1–2 days a week. I would suggest only 20 minutes for a beginner because it is a pretty intense activity and you can slowly increase the time after a while.

Is boxing a painful sport? ›

Even with big, puffy 16oz boxing gloves and headgear on, it hurts. One's nose, particularly, stings quite a bit when you get popped there. Teary eyes and bloody noses are not uncommon. But here's the cool thing: when you learn that you can actually take a punch, that's pretty awesome.

Why was boxing so important in the 1920s? ›

Americans loved boxing in the 1920s and '30s. Every immigrant neighborhood had its champion, and boxing was a flag of racial or ethnic pride. According to writer Jack Newfield, "rivalries [were] built on ethnic tension, and you could get ten thousand people for a fight between two neighborhood heroes."

Why was boxer important? ›

More to the point, the conclusion of the Boer War produced a moderate peace that led to a reconciliation between British and Boer that formed the Union of South Africa in 1910, merging the two British provinces (Cape Province and Natal) with the two Boer provinces (Transvaal and Orange Free State) into a single entity.

What was the significance of the boxer movement? ›

The Boxer Rebellion was an anti-imperialist movement which sought to expel foreigners from China and end the system of foreign concessions and treaty ports. The rebellion had multiple causes. Escalating tensions caused Chinese to turn against "foreign devils" who scrambled for power in the late 19th century.

Who was the African American hero for boxing? ›

During what is often described as boxing's “Golden Age” — approximately 1930 to 1955 — Joe Louis, the “Brown Bomber,” would become its undisputed king. Not only would Louis dominate his sport during this period, he transcended the color barrier and was cheered by Americans of all races.

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