By Robert Ortiz, Staff Writer
At River Hill, discussions about professional sports are widespread, but one major sport is overlooked by most: boxing. Few students at RHHS actively follow the sport.
Boxing is huge in many parts of the world, as it has fighters from many different regions. Almost every corner of the world has had an elite boxing champion at some point in time. This raises the question: Why isn’t boxing talked about at River Hill?
Most people are familiar with boxing and know what the sport requires. Some people can even recall superstars like Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, or even recent social media stars like Jake Paul and Ryan Garcia. Freshman Sam Eidson says, “Mike Tyson is really well known and Ryan Garcia, he’s more media focused.”
There are current fighters who are elite and great in their own way, but lack representation and media exposure. Current greats are frequently overlooked by the legends of the past as well.
Younger and newer stars often gain more attention through social media than through competition. Eidson adds, “Jake Paul is really putting a lot of money [into his events]. I’m not sure if he wants attention for himself or the sport.”
It’s difficult to get into boxing if the legends are of the past, and the current stars are shrouded by internet clout. Glenn says, “I guess [boxing is] just an acquired taste.” It is much easier to root for a team with multiple players than for one individual.
Besides media exposure, River Hill’s promotion for sports teams and clubs plays a huge role. Football, baseball and soccer are all widely talked about and participated in at RHHS. Wrestling is another contact sport that has a lot of popularity at River Hill. In response to the lack of representation of boxing at River Hill, Eidson said, “We don’t have a club or a team for that.”
Without clubs or teams to represent boxing, there is no guarantee that new fans will emerge. Eidson notes, “It’s not as advertised in school; if you’re talking about it, it’s something you’re watching, or you’re a fan of a specific person.”
The lack of representation is often associated with the violence boxing is known for. Most people don’t actively go out of their way to watch a sport that advertises its biggest fights as bloody spectacles. Senior Kush Parikh said, “There’s a lot of blood in it. It’s probably a big driving factor [away from boxing].”
Though boxing may seem overly violent to some, American Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. Despite being a team sport, football is extremely dangerous for your health, specifically brain health. Parikh mentioned, “I think boxing is more violent. But football’s probably alongside it.” Though both sports involve violence, football is much more normalized due to school teams and community support.
Unlike professional boxing, football takes precautions to reduce the amount of head trauma its players suffer. Helmets are mandatory for all sanctioned football games, with some players even adding extra padding for more protection. Donald Glenn said, “I definitely think it’s way safer than boxing,” adding that “football is more blunt, but they have helmets and shoulder pads on.”
“In boxing, you can just hit somebody right to the face,” Parikh remarked. Amateur boxers often wear headgear to prevent cuts and reduce the impact of concussions, but this is typically only for young boxers before the age of 19. Professionals, however, are forbidden to wear this protective gear during bouts.
This idea of taking direct blows to the head is an issue and concern for sports fans. Eidson said, “It is a little violent, but it’s a sport. It’s not like they’re being held against their will to fight.” Though boxers sometimes take sustained punishment throughout their fights, they fight to make a living, just like any other professional athlete.
While boxing is a globally recognized sport, the lack of school representation and concerns about violence drive many students away from it. Without a team or club to support and spread news on the action, boxing may continue to be one of the most overlooked sports at River Hill.