There is a growing debate in the boxing community regarding the minimum age for a person to start boxing. While each person’s growth trajectory is different, which governs the age at which they begin boxing, in recent days, kids have begun competing at the tender age of 8 and 9. This trend has not only raised ethical concerns but also worries about the safety of the child. Such a discourse found its way recently when a young child was seen competing in the ring.

While some fighters begin their amateur boxing careers at an early age of 10-12 years, pro boxers need to be 18, as per international rules. However, that is just the skim of the way the sport works. Many fighters begin training at an earlier age in a professional setting. Critics of such a setup have vehemently opposed the induction of kids into the sport, which is primarily violent and a risk to physical health.

A young, 9-year-old boy, infamously known on the internet as ‘Rowdy Ryan’, has gone viral for his recent boxing competition. The Reno, Nevada-based competition saw Ryan face off against another young child, possibly of a similar age. Ryan’s Instagram account posted a video of the fight in which the child can be seen wearing safety gear and throwing some punches toward his opponent.

His Instagram followers, concerned, could not contain their opposition to such a setup. While some comments did commend the young child’s boxing acumen, the rest voiced their disapproval of such fights.

How young is too young?

A user, in a loud disappointment, underscored the damage the child takes with each bout he fights. They wrote, “It’s a little bit early for them to fight, you’ll lose your Braincells after each fight, which is not okay to start fighting at their age.”

Another user questioned the entire point of such fights. They argued that starting the sport this early could lead to brain damage, causing lifelong repercussions. The user noted, “What are the benefits of starting boxing this young? They are just gonna get brain damage and just be slower in the future then they would’ve been if they started later.”

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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive degenerative disease is common among boxers and footballers. The condition is caused by repeated trauma to the head and it often lead to symptoms like memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, and other cognitive and psychological disorders. A user highlighted that fighting at such a young age could lead to the child getting CTE. “Road to CTE with 20 years old,” they remarked.

However, another fan commended Ryan for his left hook. “Dominating that Left hook,” they quipped.

In another argument, a fan stated that starting at a young age is ideal for the child. He noted, “Nice his [fire emoji] lol hands will catch up to IQ Trust the process.”

Do you think children should start boxing at such an early age? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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