With no major heavyweight challenger waiting in the wings, boxing is arguably at its all-time low and now is the time to put it down for the count.
In different studies collected by the National Parkinson Foundation, 15 to 40 percent of ex-boxers have symptoms of chronic brain injury. Most of the boxers have mild symptoms, but recent studies using psychological testing and MRI scanning show that most professional boxers - including those without symptoms - have some degree of brain damage.
The information does not include those who suffer from Parkinson's disease, including Muhammad Ali. The medical field has been unable to agree on whether a correlation exists between the disease and boxing.
This is a sport where one could win by punching someone so hard that he, or now she, knocks the opponent out. In all other major professional sports except the National Hockey League, such action would result in an automatic suspension.
Of course, the sport could be made safer. For example, head protection could be used in all events, but the sport cares more about its dollars than its fighters.
But just because the public likes it does not make it right. Remember the Roman Coliseum and that thing with the lions? People liked to watch that too.
Now, public desire barely keeps boxing afloat because the ring's steady diet of champions and competitors from Sonny Liston to Lennox Lewis has ended. With no worthy opponent, Lewis is leaning toward retirement, and the boxing world lacks a hero. This comes after boxing received negative publicity following Lewis' first match against Evander Holyfield.
That fight ended in a draw, though most believed Lewis won the fight. But Lewis' pockets won because the draw set up an inevitable rematch that attracted the spotlight.
Last weekend, Mike Tyson knocked out Clifford Etienne 49 seconds into the fight. But people listen to Tyson talk instead of watching him fight. Tyson's post-bout comments were louder than the fight. Still, he will never be able to beat a legitimate opponent following his disaster against Lewis last summer.
Of course, the smaller guys can fight too, but the mainstream press had more information about Manute Bol's celebrity boxing match than the last major welterweight bout.
We live in a world where kids can play whatever sport they desire and follow whomever they wish. Which Mike do you want to be like - Tyson or Jordan?
Now is the opportunity to get kids out of the ring and into a number of other sports. People should try to knock the ball out of the park instead of knocking out their opponents.
— Pfahler is a junior journalism major. Send him an e-mail at Eric.J.Pfahler.1@ohiou.edu.
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Eric Pfahler
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Eric Pfhaler
