Letter: Safety issue is deeper than boxing equipment

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.

Regarding Lonnie L. Hammargren's April 3 column, "Nevada should put safety first in boxing": I applaud Hammargren, a board-certified neurosurgeon, for his interest in protecting boxers.

Not being a boxer or a medically trained person, I can, however, offer a suggestion. The interest of boxing viewers and enthusiasts is based solely on the dramatic effect of one boxer being "beaten" by the other. The most "satisfaction" for a viewer is when a knockout occurs.

If we want to really protect a boxer to the extent that he or she cannot be knocked out, it would spell the end of boxing as a sport.

On the other hand, if we wrapped each boxer's head with a real hefty, thick, soft pillow, it would get pounded and pummeled until the boxer is knocked out anyway. Get the picture?

Sam Chinkes, Las Vegas

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