Headway position statement: Boxing

18 October 2011

Headway - the brain injury association believes that all forms of boxing should be banned with immediate effect due to the risk of serious injury to the brain.

The call is in line with the charity's stated objective:

To initiate activities and campaigns to reduce the incidence of brain injury.

Eleven medical associations around the world, including the British Medical Association, have said chronic brain damage is caused by repeated blows to the head, which are experienced by all boxers.

Boxing actively encourages participants to strike opponents' heads and incapacitate them by knocking them senseless. The cumulative effect of deliberate blows to the head can cause serious and long-term brain injury or even death.

Headway is committed to helping people improve their lives after sustaining brain injuries and sees first-hand the devastating effects that it can have. Headway is equally determined to prevent more people needlessly risking their health by boxing.