Boxing

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 16

Boxing

Sir, —I have been following the correspondence on boxing with considerable interest. Emphasis has been placed on the number of injuries, and particularly the danger to life, in the sport. I would like to point out that there has not been a fatality in New Zealand boxing rings since 1933. Since that time, however, there have been several deaths on the Rugby field. Also, there is a stoppage about once every 10 minutes during a Rugby match for injuries—a rate far above that for boxing. More are killed on the road each year in New Zealand than could ever be killed in a lifetime of boxing the whole world over.— Yours, etc., T. G. JOHNSTON. President. Ashburton Boxing Association. October 17, 1966.

Sir, —Mr Pearse contradicts himself in his reply to my letter. In one statement he says the hands are well protected by the padded gloves, and then he says that this allows much harder blows to be made. This is the reason why I brought up the subject originally. When these blows are aimed at the head severe brain injury can result. The tragedy is that brain tissue, when destroyed, cannot be replaced. The cumulative effects of many blows to the head results in punch drunkenness or, in some cases, a paralysis of some part of the body. If any parents are still keen to place their son in boxing, 1 would recommend they read the book, “The Medical Aspects of .Boxing,” by Dr. E. Jokl. —Yours, etc., K. O. PLUNKETT.

October 17, 1966. [This correspondence is now closed. Ed., “The Press”.]