Post by Dee Williams on Aug 14, 2009 15:22:42 GMT -5
Here's a sampler compiled by the British daily newspaper The Telegraph:
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/6021928/Womens-boxing-wins-Olympic-victory-what-they-say.html
Frank Warren, boxing promoter:
"I hold a firm belief that when it comes to sport, especially boxing, everybody should participate or at least be given the opportunity to do so.
"I can also recognise how hard female boxers work and train for their sport, yet despite this I am still not a fan of female boxing. I don't like watching women fight for the same reason I don't watch male synchronised swimming: they are not built for it.”
“I don't like seeing women fighting on the front lines of Iraq, not because they shouldn't be allowed to, but because I personally find the idea of allowing women to be put in harms way troubling. If a women chooses to become a boxer, despite all the risks, commitment and gruelling work that comes with it then that's her decision. I however, will not be there to watch the results
Robert Smith, General Secretary of the British Boxing Board:
“We have nine female professional boxers licensed in Britain in total. With women’s boxing getting into the Olympics, eventually more women will progress into the professional ranks. My duty is to license male or female boxers, and I don’t have a problem with that. If British female boxers go to the Olympics and do well, I’ll be really pleased for them. But I don’t think it will change from being a minority part of boxing itself.”
Sir Henry Cooper:
“I’m just old fashioned, but I don’t think women should box. Look at how Muhammad Ali has ended up. That said, it hasn’t stopped his daughter Laila becoming a boxer. I suppose I don’t want to see women punching each other, and ending up bloody and with scar tissue all over their faces. Boxing training in the gym is great for everyone. But I think it should stop there for women.”
Sue Tibballs, CEO of Women Sport and Fitness Foundation:
“With women’s boxing dating back to the 1720s, it’s been a long, hard, fight to get to today’s decision, but we’re delighted that the sport will be on the Olympic programme for London 2012. We hope however that this move by the IOC marks a wider step change towards gender equality at the Olympics as there’s still a long way to go. In Beijing 165 medals were available to men versus 127 to women. If we’re to achieve a fair playing field, the numbers should be equal."
Freddie Roach, trainer:
“I’m not a big fan of women's boxing, in general, but if they [the IOC] choose it - deal with it. I believe in freedom of choice and if there's an audience for female boxing then I'm all for it."
Jane Couch, retired boxer, and Britain first licensed female boxer, 12 years ago:
“Women boxing in the Olympics is a major step forward. It will create opportunities that have previously left women snubbed. I wasn’t even allowed in gyms when I started. I had to go virtually straight into the professional ranks as there was no amateur set-up. We’ll hear the same old arguments against women’s boxing trotted out that we heard ten to 15 years ago. After a sixteen-year career in the sport I’m promoting fights myself now. Women can box. The sport doesn’t suit everyone. It doesn’t suit all men. But it does suit some women. They should be allowed to fight as amateurs at the highest level.”
Peter Hamlyn, consultant neurosurgeon:
“The medical risks associated with women boxing aren’t any more serious than men's boxing. There are no medical statistics to say female boxing is not as safe. There is not enough data, and I can’t see a physiological reasons why it would be more dangerous. They have the same brains, and if anything, punch less hard. The only thing is breast injuries, but I don’t see that as a major problem, because it is not a common place to get hit. If you say there is no medical issue in regard to male boxing allowing that sport, I cannot see the logic that we should not allow women to box. Clinically, I’ve only ever seen one woman boxer, but I’ve seen more female international rugby players, and their injuries are the same as the male rugby players."
Don King, promoter:
"I support the International Amateur Boxing Association's bid for women's boxing to be included at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and I applaud International Olympic President Jacque Rogge for being open to the idea.”
“Everyone should have right to choose and the Olympics should give women the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want to participate. Women should have the right to make the decision if they wish to participate in a sport and should have the right to choose what they want to do. Rights are important. Abraham Lincoln said that if you want freedom for yourself, you've got to give it your neighbor."
Bernard Hopkins, world champion:
"I don't think women should box period for health reasons due to the way the body is made," said Bernard Hopkins. "I think the Olympics are a great thing and women should definitely have the right to compete. At the same time, you have to draw a line. A woman's body should be protected in a way that she shouldn't be punched in her liver or kidney.
I do think a woman can do what a man can do. I just don't think women can dominate everything a man can, and I don't think that men can dominate what a woman can. Certain people are cut out for certain things."
James DeGale, Olympic gold medallist:
“I think it is great for the sport of boxing that women are getting the opportunity to compete at the 2012 Olympics. Women take part in a majority if sports now and are very successful. Hopefully it will become a very popular sport for women and if they do not want to compete, boxing training is a very good way of getting ‘fighting fit without getting hit’.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/6021928/Womens-boxing-wins-Olympic-victory-what-they-say.html
Frank Warren, boxing promoter:
"I hold a firm belief that when it comes to sport, especially boxing, everybody should participate or at least be given the opportunity to do so.
"I can also recognise how hard female boxers work and train for their sport, yet despite this I am still not a fan of female boxing. I don't like watching women fight for the same reason I don't watch male synchronised swimming: they are not built for it.”
“I don't like seeing women fighting on the front lines of Iraq, not because they shouldn't be allowed to, but because I personally find the idea of allowing women to be put in harms way troubling. If a women chooses to become a boxer, despite all the risks, commitment and gruelling work that comes with it then that's her decision. I however, will not be there to watch the results
Robert Smith, General Secretary of the British Boxing Board:
“We have nine female professional boxers licensed in Britain in total. With women’s boxing getting into the Olympics, eventually more women will progress into the professional ranks. My duty is to license male or female boxers, and I don’t have a problem with that. If British female boxers go to the Olympics and do well, I’ll be really pleased for them. But I don’t think it will change from being a minority part of boxing itself.”
Sir Henry Cooper:
“I’m just old fashioned, but I don’t think women should box. Look at how Muhammad Ali has ended up. That said, it hasn’t stopped his daughter Laila becoming a boxer. I suppose I don’t want to see women punching each other, and ending up bloody and with scar tissue all over their faces. Boxing training in the gym is great for everyone. But I think it should stop there for women.”
Sue Tibballs, CEO of Women Sport and Fitness Foundation:
“With women’s boxing dating back to the 1720s, it’s been a long, hard, fight to get to today’s decision, but we’re delighted that the sport will be on the Olympic programme for London 2012. We hope however that this move by the IOC marks a wider step change towards gender equality at the Olympics as there’s still a long way to go. In Beijing 165 medals were available to men versus 127 to women. If we’re to achieve a fair playing field, the numbers should be equal."
Freddie Roach, trainer:
“I’m not a big fan of women's boxing, in general, but if they [the IOC] choose it - deal with it. I believe in freedom of choice and if there's an audience for female boxing then I'm all for it."
Jane Couch, retired boxer, and Britain first licensed female boxer, 12 years ago:
“Women boxing in the Olympics is a major step forward. It will create opportunities that have previously left women snubbed. I wasn’t even allowed in gyms when I started. I had to go virtually straight into the professional ranks as there was no amateur set-up. We’ll hear the same old arguments against women’s boxing trotted out that we heard ten to 15 years ago. After a sixteen-year career in the sport I’m promoting fights myself now. Women can box. The sport doesn’t suit everyone. It doesn’t suit all men. But it does suit some women. They should be allowed to fight as amateurs at the highest level.”
Peter Hamlyn, consultant neurosurgeon:
“The medical risks associated with women boxing aren’t any more serious than men's boxing. There are no medical statistics to say female boxing is not as safe. There is not enough data, and I can’t see a physiological reasons why it would be more dangerous. They have the same brains, and if anything, punch less hard. The only thing is breast injuries, but I don’t see that as a major problem, because it is not a common place to get hit. If you say there is no medical issue in regard to male boxing allowing that sport, I cannot see the logic that we should not allow women to box. Clinically, I’ve only ever seen one woman boxer, but I’ve seen more female international rugby players, and their injuries are the same as the male rugby players."
Don King, promoter:
"I support the International Amateur Boxing Association's bid for women's boxing to be included at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and I applaud International Olympic President Jacque Rogge for being open to the idea.”
“Everyone should have right to choose and the Olympics should give women the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want to participate. Women should have the right to make the decision if they wish to participate in a sport and should have the right to choose what they want to do. Rights are important. Abraham Lincoln said that if you want freedom for yourself, you've got to give it your neighbor."
Bernard Hopkins, world champion:
"I don't think women should box period for health reasons due to the way the body is made," said Bernard Hopkins. "I think the Olympics are a great thing and women should definitely have the right to compete. At the same time, you have to draw a line. A woman's body should be protected in a way that she shouldn't be punched in her liver or kidney.
I do think a woman can do what a man can do. I just don't think women can dominate everything a man can, and I don't think that men can dominate what a woman can. Certain people are cut out for certain things."
James DeGale, Olympic gold medallist:
“I think it is great for the sport of boxing that women are getting the opportunity to compete at the 2012 Olympics. Women take part in a majority if sports now and are very successful. Hopefully it will become a very popular sport for women and if they do not want to compete, boxing training is a very good way of getting ‘fighting fit without getting hit’.