Legality of Professional Boxing - Essay Example

? LEGALITY OF PROFESSIONAL BOXING Introduction The legality of boxing as a sporting event is based on a set of policies that seek to govern how it occurs, as well as the will of the participants. Various litigations have been filled by protesting groups over its consideration. However, the same principles have been used repetitively towards its defence. However, further examination of the elements that are associated to some boxing events leaves a lot to be desired over its legality. This paper seeks to evaluate other aspects of boxing that may be used in courts while in the quest of challenging the legality of the event. Key focus is laid on professional boxing, with the current set of safety measures placed in consideration. The paper will source t support from future litigation involving the complaints associated to the brutal nature of the sport. Various sporting events source contrivances over their legality, and the ethical attributions accorded unto them. Boxing is amongst the most controversial sporting events in the history of recreation. The sport involves the utilization of fists over the opponent in a scenario akin to a fight. The difference between the two is the restrictions and the rules invoked in boxing. Additionally, boxing involves the utilization of officiating officers who oversees its success. However, the rest of the aspects of boxing may be confused to those of a fight with ease. There exists a sense of bad blood between rivals, a factor that fuels the energy witnessed in a match. Professional boxing, commonly referred to as PRO boxing has attracted an increased number of interests from the legal dimensions. This focuses on both its legality and the safety of the participants. However, prior to examining these interests, it is vital to examine the opinions shared by other partisans over the matter. This is because legal concerns are built from such interests. On this regard, the art of boxing invokes considerable number of support, as well as loathers in almost equal proportions. There are various reasons that explain this development. Amongst them is the central purpose of any sporting event. Analysis Sports are meant for recreation based effects, as well as physical fitness.1 While viewed from that dimension, boxing promotes this understanding via all of its aspects. The participants engage into rounds of action that help them keep fit. On the other hand, the fans utilize the moment for their recreation gains by enjoying each occasion. Under professional settings, the boxers enjoy earnings in as a supplement to their performance. PRO boxing is a real career that can see the participants lead a successful life. The earnings coupled to the fights make the boxers adjust their lifestyles to a flamboyant one, while still boasting of fans under their names. Their determination that sees them several rounds of senseless thumbing may be echoed as a source of motivation to the respective fans. Boxers can thus be viewed as outstanding role models to the society. This, while coupled with their fame in the ring, assists to elevate their legacy in the glimmer of their fans, as well as the general public. Subsequently, boxing as a profession offers wide opportunities to make global tours. This can be utilized in funding other campaigns that steers towards unifying the community and eliminating various vices that affect certain communities. Some boxing tournaments may be established in support of certain ambitions for the welfare of the marginalized. This helps unite communities, as well as upraise the marginalized communities. Another vital consideration in the field of boxing is the self will deployed in the acquisition of pugilists.2 This reflects on the understanding that the boxers are recruited into a combat by their own free will. The legal restrictions accorded to this process only focus on the age of the recruit. This is in accordance to the specification of the responsible country of citizenship. In a majority of the cases, eighteen is the ultimate age upon which one is legally considered as an adult. Upon attaining this age, the individual is tasked with the duty of making hi s or her own decisions that can be respected. This implies the reason behind the progress of boxing as both a professional and a recreation sport. Several supplementary sporting events also share the cruelty experienced in boxing. They include Karate, Kick – boxing, judo, Tae-kwon-do and wrestling, amongst others. All this are physical events that involve combating the opponents at a physical level and in a cheering crowd.3 (Urquidez, 2001). However, the opinions expressed against the event point on several aspects such as the history of the event, as well as its moral obligation. This may explain the reason behind the formulation of the legislations to address the topic of safety in the conduct of the event. A publication by a religious oriented magazine denoted that boxing was a form of profession which is founded on the cruelty to human life. The editor was rather categorical to term the event as an attempted murder in a legalized setting. On this regard, the editor denoted that the organizers of the event do not place the welfare or the plight of the boxers in mind while organizing for matches. The editor pointed out on the possibility that their minds are poisoned by the resultant speculated earnings to forego the plight of the participants. This had occurred after the tragic death of an iconic boxing figure. Apparently, several boxers have succumbed to the knocks accrued during the matches. In some cases, the fatalities occurred while the boxers were still in the field of play. Several boxers have been admitted to mental recreation facilities following disparities accrued to boxing. However, the eureka moment in the public opinions came when the death of a famous boxer, eventuated. This development saw the formation of lobby groups against the sporting events, as well as increased calls for its downplay. This implied that the sport would no longer be considered a sporting event due to the attributed risks. Furthermore, upon a detailed analysis of the sport, some interesting facts were unveiled.4 (Owens, 2011) A significant proportion of the boxers can be traced back to poor backgrounds. This finding correlates boxing to other events such as drug trafficking, promiscuity or robbery that are viewed as easy ways to earn cash and elope the hard living conditions. To this, the opposers argue that the participants of the event are not well informed f the possible repercussions, in terms of their health. Instead, they are blinded by the cash at hand. Progressive focus on the causes of injuries and the eventual fatalities in the sport leads to the identification of the common most injuries reported by the participants of the event. Bruises and cuts are the common most reported injuries in the sport. Apparently, these injuries arise upon exposure to unlimited magnitude of force against body tissues. The situation may worsen with the nature of fists suffered in the event. Serious occasion includes the reports of internal injuries, rib breaks and extreme limp fractures. In other occasions that are rather regular, the participant may end damaging some sensitive parts such as the eyes. On this regard, it is vital to establish a set of safety precautions that will govern the sporting event.5 (Urquidez, 2001) This explains the reasoning capacity behind the boxing safety act. The establishment of the laws to govern the safety of the whole process focused on several factors, amongst them the desire to ensure the wellness of the boxers. This could only be achieved the improvement of the existing precautions and expounding on them on order to establish a wider set of protection to the boxers. The legal constrains also sought t assist the federations involved in boxing on advancing their vigilance on the subject matter. On this regard, the law steers at attaining a competent oversight body on the matter at hand. This is in accordance to the stipulation of specific countries. With regards to the United States, the safety act was developed upon approval of relevant legislation by the senate. The document seeks to establish, amongst others, the opinions that can promote safe boxing events. On this regard, the decree contains several clauses that steer towards the objective of interest. The top most reflects on the organization of a boxing match. This reflects on the protocols upon which individuals wishing to organize a boxing event should sustain adherence. Various litigations have been placed on this concern. They include the hosting of unsanctioned boxing matches, which some times lead to the death of participants. This is best exemplified by the lawsuit filled by the family of George Clinkscale upon his perish after attending an authorized underground boxing event. The victim was identified as a casualty of malice and unethical practises.6 (Owens, 2011). Apparently, the match was held in a basement of a church n Oklahoma. The lawsuits argues against the provision of negligence accorded in the safety act on boxing. This reflects on the ability of the church to ensure the safety of the participants of their events pro to any other intuitions. In the incidence of reflection, the participant had exhibited symptoms of sickness that were fully neglected by the sponsors of the event, leading t his death. Apparently, the responsible association that is mandated to license such events, in accordance to the stipulations of the boxing safety act denied offering the licence. The region falls under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State Athletic Association. This leads to a further probe on the events attributed to a licensed boxing event. This is captured in the section 6304 of the act that reflects on the safety standards that must be pleased prior to the licensing of a given boxing tournament. Amongst this is the provision of medical check up services prior to the commencement of the match at hand. This aims at identifying the suitability of each candidate, in terms of their health and fitness. The checks are conducted by a qualified physician who is accorded the authority of disqualifying the unfit participants.7 (Hauser, 2011). The section proceeds to offer the supplementary measures that should be observed prior to the eventuality of the match. The field of the event needs to be accredited by a qualified personnel fro the regulation board. This implies that the concerned executives must visit the field of action prior to the occurrence of the match and certify on its appropriateness. Upon he establishment of any contrasts to the set standards, the executive are mandated with the authority of revoking the license of the event without further adieu. In addition, the event must be patronized by a team of efficient physicians who are obliged to offer first aid and pre-match health analysis on the boxers. An event that lacks these central attributes is not mandated to progress. This is the argument nurtured by the family of Clinkscale in their law suit. The suit seeks the compensation in terms of monetary based solutions. In stake is $75,000, a sum that represents the desire by the affected family to settle their punitive damages claims. The claim may sound irrational placing in mind that the event involved a loss of life. However, it serves to illustrate the extent upon which the law can reflex to ensure the safety of the participants of a boxing match. Further concerns on the health of the boxers demands for the acquisition of an insurance cover for each of the participating boxer. This is mandatory in the occurrence of a fatal complication, an event that may be driven by an accident of sustained injuries following a match. The policies ensure that the boxers are able to meet their medical necessities, as well as their post medical demands upon the occurrence of unfortunate incidents.8 (Owens, 2011). Further more, securing a medical cover for a boxer participating n a given event is a clear sign of commitment into the sport and the welfare of the participants. Progressively, the act requires the verification of search insurance covers prior to the commencement of the match of interest. This is in effort of avoiding possible mischief from the edge of the promoters that may jeopardize their rights of health. If the mentioned measures were observed, maybe some lives could have been saved, including that of Clinkscale. Progressively, the act offers restriction on various other aspects of boxing. This includes a quest of establishing a database on the existing boxers. This is achieved via a proposal of having them registered with a central association of boxing. Presence of such a database helps assist in the establishment of follow-ups over the plight of the register members. So as to achieve this, there needs to be established a form of identification upon which the identity of a registered boxers can be verified. The proposal is rather categorical to offer a solution of renewal of the specific forms of registrations engaged. In the quest of establishing even rigid measures towards the health of the participant, the act proposes record keeping of the potential candidates in the medical records. On this regard, it is mandatory for the involved physician to be certified. Additionally, they should be in a position of documenting their work. During the previous century, a famous boxer died while engaged in a fight. Duk Koo Kim was participating into a boxing contest that saw him manage over a dozen rounds of the fight. However, the 14th round saw his collapse and eventual his death. Apparently, his death can be associated to several others from the previous encounters, as well as in progressive events. Boxing events are associated to extensive use of inconsiderate brutality against the opponent, an understanding that sometimes leaves more to be desired than explained.9 (Hauser, 2011). This is with regards to the essence of sports, as perceived in the glimmer the general public. On this regard, the common ascension leans towards the promotion of peace in the name of competitive spirits. However, the same understanding cannot be extended into the field of boxing. The target of the event is knocking down the opponent in the most brutal manner possible. Ease wins are declared upon securing a technical knockout, an event that involves flooring your opponent by use of fists. Such an understanding steers the misconception of the peaceful coexistence that may be promoted by boxing (Katherine, 2009). Current findings nullify the efforts subscribed by the safety act towards the promise of a safe boxing match, in terms of fatality. Following the advancement in technology, computer based simulations assist in identifying the occasions that can lead into a fatality in a boxing match. These findings are based on the factors that grossly contribute to the categorization of each match. This includes elements such as the weight of the participants, as well as their ages. Final Argument The quantification of the health status of a fighter prior to the occurrence of the real event is subjected to several challenges. This regards the finer aspects of diseases, with special concerns being nested on the prospects of existence of genetic based complication that can hardly be detected with ease. Such developments have the potential of diverting from the attention of the physician but can amount to serious fatality upon their trigger. Boxing based fatalities may also be associated to several other medical conditions that may not be detected with ease during the registration checks. These factors can compliment the challenges placed against the sport in a given litigation. This is best exemplified in a lawsuit filled by Greg Page, a professional boxer and a former heavyweight title holder, against the state of Kentucky following brain based damages he accrued after a boxing match. Apparently, the complainant had suffered several cases of stroke that were outlined by the constant coma slips. This had occurred during a match sponsored by the state. Other legal based concerns over the sporting event are based on the moral degradation associated to the event. In majority of the cases, the view of a boxing tournament leaves the participants with charged desire of flexing their muscles. This can be deployed to explain the resonance behind the occasional violence experienced by children nurtured by parent who prefer the sport10 (Hauser, 2011). On this ascension, the event can arouse the development of violence oriented generation that prompts to eventuate into a security threat. This promises challenges to the social livelihoods of the public. Progressively, the trend may affect state institutions such as centres of learning amongst other facilities. Upon evaluating the arguments presented in support of the sporting event and those presented against it, the opinion on the legality of the sport should be reviewed. This is because the opinions against grossly outnumber the opinions of support in significant proportions. Bibliography A Review of the Professional Boxing Industry: Is Further Reform Needed? : Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, May 23, 2001. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 2004. Print. Business Practices in the Professional Boxing Industry: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, Second Session, March 24, 1998. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 1998. Print. Continuning to Reform Professional Boxing: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, February 5, 2003. 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P. 12-54 The Professional Boxing Safety Act: Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Commerce, and the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Second Session, on H.r. 1186 and S. 187, June 11, 1996. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 1996. Print. Oversight of the Professional Boxing Industry: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, May 22, 1997. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 1998. Print. Oversight of the Professional Boxing Industry: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, May 22, 1997. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 1998. Print. Professional Boxing Amendments Act of 2002: Report of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on S. 2550. 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