What If Boxing Was Abolished?

 

   ENTRY 494 | April 21 /2023

WOULD THE ROBOTS TAKE OVER?

An interesting thought:

What would happen if boxing was made illegal?

A lot of people don't know this but combat sports are actually already illegal in the province of Ontario,

It is true. Competitive combat sports are "technically" not allowed. With exceptions. The sport of boxing is one of them. 

The thing is, I don't think boxing will ever really go away. It is one of the world's oldest sports dating back to 688 BC.(I finally got a straight answer to that question thanks to ChatGPT). Since boxing has been around so long, it is likely to be around for a long time yet.

However,  have you ever thought about what would happen if people were no longer allowed in the ring?

It brings to mind 'The Twilight Zone' episode 122 titled 'Steel'. About a future where boxing had been abolished in 1968, so human boxers were replaced by robots, Fully automated robots.

Quite ambitious for a story written in 1964. Predicting fully-automated boxing robots just four years in the future.

Of course, that would not have been possible at that time, but it most certainly could happen now, We do have the technology capable of building such machines.

However, having robots that are programmed with all the rules of boxing would pose one big problem. There would never be a winner. Computers are too perfect and since they would only be able to follow their instruction code, they would never make a mistake.

Fast forward quite a few years to 2011.

The feature film 'Real Steel'. A story that seems to have been copied from this very episode of 'The Twilight Zone' with a slight difference. The robots are operated by humans using a remote control. This would definitely make things more interesting since there would still be a human factor involved, and thus, still be room for mistakes.

This idea is a lot more plausible, but is it likely to happen?

As a boxer myself, I hope not.

The thing is, nobody is forced to be a boxer. Boxers know there is a risk every time one enters the ring. Also, the safety protocols for boxing have also greatly changed since 1964. It is much safer even at the professional level. 

However, I can't help to think that maybe it has become too safe? Could the popularity of boxing been dropping since the safety standards have been increased? The timelines seem to match. 

I really don't like it when an amateur boxer gets injured in the ring because they are doing it for fun. However, professional boxers are getting paid. It is their job. I am not saying that we should roll back the safety standards of boxing back to what they were in the '60s, but maybe just a bit. 

After all, if I have to pay upwards of $100 to see professional boxing, I want to see some blood splatter.

I'm just saying what you all are thinking.

NEXT ENTRY: April 28 /2023

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ABOUT 'The Brick;

'The Brick' is a competitive boxer and has been training for over 12 years.

STATS:

9 bouts (Boxing Ontario) 

2 bouts (Ontario Boxing Association) 

1 bout (Florida State Athletic Commission) 

DIVISION:

Masters Novice

CURRENT WEIGHT:

71 kg (160 lbs.) 

STATUS:

ACTIVE

STANCE:

Orthodox (left lead)

CURRENT TEAM/CLUB:

Cabbagetown Boxing Club

Toronto

COACH:

Johnny Kalbhenn

NEXT SCHEDULED BOUTS:

TBA