The (Im)Morality of Professional Boxing!

This may not be a popular position but just the same, I need to write it because I believe it is a moral issue. I am referring to professional boxing. I believe there is a need to pose and reflect on the morality of this so called "sport". There is another kind of boxing which may really qualify as a sport; amateur boxing. Amateur boxers wear head gears and use standard gloves. Once a boxer receives a solid hit, the fight is immediately stopped and the referee gives the boxer a counting to help him recover. They only box for three rounds and the winner is determined more by the skill the boxer has in hitting his opponent rather than knocking him down. A knock down, in fact, is only equivalent to a solid hit. With professional boxing, there are no head gears, counts are only given after a knockdown and the easiest way to win is always to knockdown the other boxer. No wonder, a lot of professional boxers had trained so hard so that their punches will be "killers". No wonder a lot of boxers encountered their death on the ring and a good number had been physically damaged if not handicapped after fighting professionally for some years.

One need not really look far in order to see what it had done to its aficionado's. Just watch those who are watching it and memories of the time of the gladiators come to mind. While the gladiator's fight always end in death, professional boxing may not be far if it is not there yet, or if hurting or incapacitating the other boxer had already become an acceptable outcome. By what reason can one really root somebody to severely hurt, incapacitate, or knock out another? Some say, it is a "sport". Well, calling it a sport does not allow anyone to hurt if not to incapacitate, and in some cases accidentally kill another. If that is the case, then, professional boxing must not be considered a sport. Most, if not all sports, are about showing their particular skills without hurting the other. If in case there are contacts, they are part of the game and tolerable enough but not damaging. Sports should enhance the skills of athletes and encourage competition but not to hurt. If at all, professional boxing caters to the hunger of some people to be a witness to an abuse if not a slaughtering.

Here in the Philippines, it has another use. Government officials are identifying themselves with a winning professional boxer named Manny Pacquiao. Worse, they are claiming it as the unifying factor for the nation! Huh? Really? (How low can some people be?) He had gained fame (?) and prestige for our country(!) but that is just it. To connect it with the progress and integrity of our nation is asking and getting too much from its real meaning and purpose. Is this really the way we want to achieve things for our country? Unfortunately, the boxer had allowed himself to be used. Or should I say, had realized he can also use them? There is truth to this. One election, he aspired to win a legislative position. Fortunately, even his own people still has the sense not to vote for him so that he lost the election. Those around him had really taken advantage of his weakness. People can really become so greedy that they are willing to do not only the improbable but also the immoral. I hate to say it but in this country, it has become a reality. Hopefully, it will not graduate as a standard! Because if it does, God help us!

Basic in the Catholic faith is not to hurt your neighbor. Even within a sport, it applies. There is a difference if one is hurt or killed accidentally or intentionally. The intention is always substantial to every act. Combined with the result, they comprise the very aspects of a moral act. With regards to professional boxing, it fails both in intention and desired results. Therefore, it is immoral and those who participate in it maybe guilty in varying degrees!

Manny Pacquiao is again due to fight this Sunday (Philippine time). A priest, in fact, had always been celebrating mass for him and all his supporters before his every fight. A mass was also celebrated after his last victory here in Manila. That is respected. Anyone can seek God's assistance and guidance in any endeavor of life. Anyone can offer to God his victory in life. The whole country will practically be glued to the live coverage of the fight. Cinemas, restaurants, cafes and many other establishments had offered, for a fee, to show Pacquiao's fight live. A government official gave eight (8) thousands ticket (worth 250 pesos) to his constituents so they can watch the fight. Other government officials sponsor to have the live showing available in gyms, sports centers, and other big venues. Many, from various levels of society, shelled out some pesos to be part of those who will watch it live. Many are anticipating a celebration come Monday. Government officials are flying, paying for their own expense (kuno!), to Vegas to watch the fight live and cheer for Manny. This entails a lot of expenses for a country that is supposed to be struggling with its economy and always complaining of poverty. No doubt, the Pacquiao fight had ranked one of our countries top event! And I am sure, this piece would make me a killer of joy!

In one mass, I dared to offer this view and I even intimated my wish for Manny to lose if only to wake us all up from this dream. If Manny loses, hopefully, all of these will end. But I take that back. Not because I have changed my view but because I know that it will not change everything. Manny should not suffer just because he was the one involved. It is the attitude of people regarding his career that needs change; whether rooting for him or using him for their own interests and gains. Also, even if there is no more Manny, and another one comes, as long as the attitudes are there, we will be back to where we were before. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is complicated. But I sincerely hope that changes would happen both for the sport and the aficionados. Then and only then can we really enjoy the sport and its fruits!

(Just days ago, Manny Pacquiao won his seventh title but not without inflicting so much damage to his opponent Miguel Angel Cotto. On the eve of the fight, a Filipino boxer, Z Gorres won a fight but celebrated his triumph in coma. He is stable now, but the Gorres-Pacquiao incidents should make organizers to evaluate the rules of professional boxing.)