The charity has reiterated its call for boxing to be banned following the tragic death of fighter Scott Westgarth after a light-heavyweight bout in Doncaster on Saturday.
Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway – the brain injury association, said: “It is shameful that yet another a young man has died taking part in this so-called sport.
“For too long, boxing authorities, agents, and promoters have profited on the back of young men and women risking their lives every time they step into the ring.
“In this sport, the ultimate aim is to deliberately cause head and brain injuries by rendering your opponent senseless by repeated blows to the head delivered with great force. The obvious, natural and unavoidable consequence of this is brain injury, which can be fatal.
“Too many boxers have died or sustained devastating brain injuries for this sport to be allowed to continue.
“Pleas that boxers know and understand the risk, or that such tragedies are unpredictable are simply not credible. Young boxers are not making an informed choice.
“Nor are meaningless statements suggesting boxing can be made safer. We are repeatedly told that all professional fights have doctors at the ringside, but serious questions need to be asked about the medical provision that was available for Scott’s fight.
“There is simply no way to make boxing safe and to allow more lives to be lost in this way is unacceptable and completely irresponsible.
“Scott Westgarth and many others before him should not have been allowed to lose their lives or sustain needless brain injuries through sanctioned acts of deliberate of violence.
“Boxing is a senseless waste of life and the time has come for it to be banned.”
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