A sport for the dedicated (Boxing - Is it a Sport?)

Member Name: paulie1975

Product:	Boxing - Is it a Sport?
Date:	20/01/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fearsome training, stimulating, provides discipline

Disadvantages: The possibility of injury

Anyone who has been to a boxing match can be in no doubt how brutal it is, the amount of physical training, on power, speed, dexterity, aggression and tactics are incredible. It is a terrifically demanding feat to box, it takes bravery and a touch of fear but is it a sport.

Well the dictionary describes a sport as:
1.
a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
b. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.

So for me Boxing is a sport as defined by our cultural references it is definitely a physical activity, it is engaged in competitively and it has a set of rules.

I appreciate that the debate of whether this is a sport may revolve more around its brutal nature and I understand this, however boxers have a choice, they choose sometimes dream of training to become the best boxer in the world, they are taught discipline, how to defend themselves and in amateur circles they begin learning tactics in controlled environments.

Boxing has been an Olympic sport since ancient roman times and continues to be one of the most prestigious Olympic events to this day. Yes it can be violent, but it is controlled, all participants choose to do it, there are medical tests before and after fights and doctors at ringside.
I love boxing, I love its history and its rules have been tightened enormously from the days when it was bare-knuckle until someone collapsed, we have seen amazing athletes from Muhammed Ali, through Sugar Ray Leonard to modern greats like Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather Jr, the best boxers avoid getting hit, that's how they win fights, it is as much mental as physical and I believe it is a sport and a damned fine one at that.

Summary: A sport for the dedicated