<p>I have nothing against boxing, but unsupervised boxing with no protection is STUPID. Even with the appropriate safety equipment, I still managed to put a guy on the ground (and I STINK at boxing).</p>
<p>Thinking that using gloves but not using protective head gear is a good idea is really all the proof you need that your son is not ready to make this decision on his own.</p>
<p>If this were me, I’d sign him up for boxing lessons asap. He not only needs a pro to learn how to box correctly, he will benefit from having a coach who tells him what an idiot he is for even thinking about doing what his friends want him to do.</p>
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<p>It won’t be fine if someone dies or is seriously injured or disfigured. </p>
<p>I would never allow unsupervised boxing.</p>
<p>NO to unsupervised boxing.<br>
My s tried the same thing when he was 16. I was so happy he told me. I think he knew it was really stupid but the peer pressure was strong.
I had him talk to a family member who supervises a volunteer boxing club.
We warned him about the dangers. And told him he could NOT continue this activity.
We were worried he might sneak it but I don’t think he did. He just stopped his visits to this particular house. I think the talk with our family member helped…</p>
<p>I also say no. However, you aren’t going to have control over this. If he really decides he wants to do this, he will. Often these things occur ad hoc so you can’t really predict when they will happen. I agree with a lot of the posters that a talk about this, and having him go to a club that does this under supervision that will also apprise him of the dangers of doing this without someone supervising. Still the end result is that if he decides to blow off all of the advice, not much you can do.</p>
<p>It’s the same with all sorts of activities that you prohibit. As they get older and are spending time away from you, there is less control on them. You tell them your feelings about it. Perhaps there is a consequence if you hear he is doing this anyways. But still, the control is gone.</p>
<p>I think boxing is insane. It should not be a sport, and should only be used for self-defense, if at all, because of the damage it can do.
Look what it did for Muhammad Ali.</p>
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Look what racing did to Dale Earnhardt sr.
Or flying to Amelia Earhart.</p>
<p>sports have their risks and their rewards. life goes on. boxing isn’t ‘insane’. there are thousands upon thousands of boxers, both pro and amateur who are in perfect condition.</p>
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<p>I would imagine, though, that those boxers were properly trained, equipped, and supervised.</p>
<p>I’m not against boxing per se. I’m against my kid and his friends doing it on their own. I would never allow that.</p>
<p>All sports have their risks of injury. However, if you are just fooling around and boxing and kill someone, you can be up for manslaughter charges. A death or injury always carries alot of guilt and blame, but if you are doing something that is perceived as boneheaded and dangerous without taking the precautions out there that society offers, you can get officially charged with that negligence and found guilty. Talk about ruining your life! That can do it.</p>
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<p>Well yea absolutely. One page ago I said that they should join a boxing gym and not try to play bruce lee in their basement.</p>
<p>Sure, there may be many boxers in “perfect condition” now, but how perfect will they be years from now after thousands of blows to the head?</p>
<p>My son spent 10 years at a dojo where the sensei integrates a variety of martial arts into the program, including sparring. Needless to say it was always supervised, and they used appropriate protection. But what was at least as important as the protective gear, and perhaps more so, was the sense of discipline and focus on technique. You won’t be successful as a fighter if all you do is swing wildly at the other person. You need to learn the skills and the strategy, and you won’t be able to do that without a coach.</p>