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Woodward backs boxing for kids

27/12/2006

Former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward has come to the defence of boxing as a sport for children.

The World Cup-winning coach was speaking after Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the head of science at the British Medical Association (BMA), criticised the teaching of the sport.

Dr Nathanson campaigns to ban boxing, something she believes is inherently far too dangerous.

"The BMA's opposition to boxing is based on medical evidence that reveals the risk not only of acute injury but also of chronic damage in those who survive a career in boxing," the BMA states.

But Woodward, who has also worked as a consultant for Southampton football club, said children "should be encouraged" to be involved in boxing, particularly as the initiative from the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) to teach it in schools is based around exercise, discipline and self development.

"I personally think it's an excellent sport, if controlled properly," he told the Today programme.

He added: "The sport I know, rugby, is a dangerous sport; horseriding is a dangerous sport; boxing is a dangerous sport, but I think if it's controlled properly it's a wonderful sport for kids."

Keith Walters, the chairman of the ABA, echoed those views, insisting that amateur boxing is a safe and well-regulated sport.

In response to Dr Nathanson's claims that boxing leaves people with micro-tears in their brain tissue that cause damage later in life, Mr Walters said on the same programme: "I've been in boxing for over 50 years and, to be quite honest with you, I haven't seen any of them type of injuries at all."

He added: "We've done everything possible in amateur boxing to make it a safe sport. It's not so much aggressive in amateur boxing now, it's more of a technician's boxing now."

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