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Women’s boxing: Olympic discipline or blood sport?

Women’s boxing: Olympic discipline or blood sport? 		Presented by
Siobhan Sparks 		Submit questions by Nov 30 2007
Interview published on Dec 14 2007
Introduction

Boxing, the only Olympic sport closed to women, could be including female contestants at the 2012 Olympics. Supporters regard this as a positive step towards gender equality despite opposition from within the boxing community and the World Medical Association.

 

The profile of boxing has been raised amongst youth in the UK by Olympic medal winner Amir Khan and also given the thumbs up for girls by double gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes. So maybe it’s not surprising to see its re-emergence on some school’s curriculums for both sexes, after a 50 year ban. Given that research shows that teenage girls in the UK are not engaging with sports to the level of boys the same age, it could be argued that Olympic endorsement and the rise of a female champion on a par with Amir Khan could encourage girls’ involvement at school; spawning a new generation of British female boxers and potential Olympic winners.

 

However the British Medical Association calls for a ban on boxing starting with the abolition of participants under 16. Would parents object to daughters participating from school age in a sport where long term brain injury is a concern? Even members of the boxing community are sceptical, with both the national welsh boxing coach Tony Williams and former world flyweight champion Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley voicing doubts about women being suitable participants in such a punishing sport.  Supporters the world over would disagree including young women in Calcutta and Afghanistan who view the sport as providing a sense of identity, self respect and hope.

 

Should women box at the London Olympics?  Is it a suitable sport for young women?  Should parents be concerned about children playing a risk sport at school? Is exclusion denying our future female champions a chance? Put your questions to those in the know.

 

Bios

 

Professor Vivienne Nathanson – Director of Professional Activities, British Medical Association

 

Professor Nathanson qualified at Middlesex Hospital Medical School in London, 1978 and after five and a half years in hospital medical posts joined the British Medical Association staff in 1984.  Professor Nathanson was appointed as Scottish Secretary (Chief Executive) for the BMA 1990-1995, and then as Head of Central Services and International Affairs 1995-1996.  She is now Director of Professional Activities at the BMA, which encompasses all the professional areas of work of the BMA including Ethics and Public Health.  In 2004 she became both an Honorary Professor in the School for Health at Durham University and an honorary Doctor of Science at Strathclyde University.

 
Paul King – CEO of the Amateur Boxing Association of England.

Paul King is the CEO of the Amateur Boxing Association of England Ltd (ABAE), a non profit organisation and the sport's national governing body. Commencing in April 2006, the ABAE began to absorb responsibility for delivering the elite programme for UK Sport, which is vastly focussed on achieving more Olympic medals and qualifying athletes.  The ABAE is currently in the process of employing Boxing Development Officers in areas of the country considered 'hotspots'. With support and funding from local authorities, the Boxing Development Officers will support the delivery of the Whole Sports Plan.

Laura Saperstein - Professional Boxer

Laura Saperstein has worked as a TV journalist in Australia and a senior corporate lawyer for a major international law firm in London.  She is a former amateur Lightweight champion and recently turned professional. Laura also runs a busy property development business and is the founder of www.boxergirl.net a successful boxing website aimed at women.  She firmly believes that women's boxing will grow dramatically in coming years and works towards promoting and uniting women involved in the sport through her website.

Laura Saperstein (show answers)
  1. ajnewman asked Laura Saperstein: "Compared to other countries how do you rate the level of women’s boxing in the UK and is it good enough for us to have proper representation at the 2012 Olympics?"
  2. Laura Saperstein answers: "As long as they put some effort into it in between now and then, then absolutely. It takes many years to develop a sport to it’s peak, even now they’re breaking records in swimming and sprinting. It takes..." Show more»" As long as they put some effort into it in between now and then, then absolutely. It takes many years to develop a sport to it’s peak, even now they’re breaking records in swimming and sprinting. It takes a long time to get to the pinnacle and women’s boxing overall will improve over the next few years. I certainly think there are enough girls in the UK to put on a very good show in 2012 especially if the powers that be get involved in putting effort into promoting it and getting the girls out actually boxing instead of just being in the gym training. "Show less«
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  6. Emmski asked Laura Saperstein: "What do you think are the main benefits of boxing for girls and how would you recommend it over other sporting activities?"
  7. Laura Saperstein answers: "The wonderful thing about boxing for girls is it is such a fantastic antidote to a lot of messages out there about how we should look, behave, and what’s important. This idea amongst young girls that ..." Show more»" The wonderful thing about boxing for girls is it is such a fantastic antidote to a lot of messages out there about how we should look, behave, and what’s important. This idea amongst young girls that it’s all about how you look and that is the most important thing. That being thin is more important than being healthy , that looking good is more important than anything else that as a female your role is just to look good. Whereas boxing is all about courage, discipline and respect. It teaches those excellent values and it’s not necessarily about whose got the best technique or whose the most talented. It’s much more about whose willing to put themselves out there and really have a go and that’s what admired and celebrated. It’s celebrated by the boys, the girls, and the boys about the girls. When you train together and you’re all pushing yourselves to the limit and you’re out there in combat you forget all the rubbish and all that nonsense about how you look. It comes down to achieving a goal and I think that’s a really positive image for girls. The appeal of boxing is that it’s a real confidence builder and despite the view to the contrary it’s a lot safer than gymnastics, horse riding or probably even football for that matter. Statistically injuries are very small but also children are more likely to be doing non contact boxing. "Show less«
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  11. lavanya1307 asked Laura Saperstein: "Based on your own personal experience, what advise would you give the aspiring female boxer?"
  12. Laura Saperstein answers: "A lot of people give up because it’s not easy. So my advice would be if there’s an obstacle don’t give up because there is always a way round it. Look for support from people already in the sport, speak..." Show more»" A lot of people give up because it’s not easy. So my advice would be if there’s an obstacle don’t give up because there is always a way round it. Look for support from people already in the sport, speak to other girls who are boxing, if you need a bit of help getting a fight use the boxer girl website or speak to someone like me who has already encountered those difficulties and can give some insight on how to combat them. "Show less«
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  16. tobie75 asked Laura Saperstein: "Sportsmen and Women have always been held as positive role models for young people, Amir Khan being an obvious recent example. At the moment there is a government intiative to get girls involved in sport...." Show more »"Sportsmen and Women have always been held as positive role models for young people, Amir Khan being an obvious recent example. At the moment there is a government intiative to get girls involved in sport. Do you think that a female boxer would be a good role model for young people and if so what could they do to get more girls involved in boxing?" Show less »
  17. Laura Saperstein answers: "Yes definitely. As I understand it statistically girls aren’t taking up sport and it’s big problem. I would love to be involved in initiatives such as the one that Kelly Holmes is running for girls. I..." Show more»" Yes definitely. As I understand it statistically girls aren’t taking up sport and it’s big problem. I would love to be involved in initiatives such as the one that Kelly Holmes is running for girls. I was at a conference run by the women’s sport and fitness foundation that the Prime Minister opened recently about the obesity crisis which is a massive problem and will cause a huge strain on the NHS. Not only among girls but we’ve got an ageing population as well. We need to get all women doing enough physical activity. And it’s really important that it’s enjoyable. Sport should have a social aspect too and be something you want to do not have to do. I used to teach a lot of girls only classes and my coach runs a school from my gym which is a government enterprise. I don’t know if more girls are taking up boxing than other sports but I know the sport is growing and I fully intend in my professional career to help girls getting involved in the sport and to promote boxing for women in general. "Show less«
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  21. sevenof8 asked Laura Saperstein: "Female boxers are virtually unknown compared to the general public compared to their male counterparts. What do you thinks needs to change in the UK for female boxers to achieve the same level of sporting..." Show more »"Female boxers are virtually unknown compared to the general public compared to their male counterparts. What do you thinks needs to change in the UK for female boxers to achieve the same level of sporting recognition as male boxers?" Show less »
  22. Laura Saperstein answers: "The way it works for the men is it’s very easy for a male novice on his home territory whereas if you want to match a female you have to look round the whole country. The boxing establishment haven’t ..." Show more»" The way it works for the men is it’s very easy for a male novice