Boxing, health, and my wife

[momeNt]

WADR, that's nuts. I've fought a lot of "up and comers", and with my luck I'd put him down. I'm just as strong as I've ever been, though not as quick, but what I've lost in speed I make up for in experience and guile. To some degree, everyone telegraphs what they're about to do, and the more cocky and overconfident they are (that almost always goes along with how many expectations people have in them) the worse it is. When you get in on someone and counter effectively, it can go south for them really fast.

Not meaning to brag, but I did beat (on points in a 3/3) someone who was the #3 or 4 contender, depending on which organization you ask, not that long ago. He was a great puncher, my forearms hurt for days, but his defense was poor.

Hmm. You still have a lot of fight in you. Each brain is different. There are some fighters who don't sound punch drunk at all and are very sharp still, other fighters who have much shorter careers that are demented before they turn 40. Are you waiting to feel old? Your brain and body could have complete different levels of health which is what you seem to be struggling with. It doesn't matter that at 43 you can hang with up and comers, it matters that for however long you have been boxing, you have been receiving blows to your head.

 

[Whisper]

I wouldn't use a statement like "the jury is very much still out." A quick scholar.google search and abstract reading shows that all signs point to multiple concussions having chronic effects, even among amateur athletes, but no completely conclusive results.

The trick is in critically evaluating those studies, as many overreach in their conclusions, use subpar methods, and/or are just incorrect.

I'm certainly not saying that having multiple concussions absolutely does not result in cumulative effects. But I can say that even with multiple concussions, the expected outcome is full recovery. Whether that's drawn out can depend in large part on how you're measuring said outcome, and on a hundred different individual variables that might not be controlled very well in any one particular study.

The general idea being that there really hasn't been a solid link established between a concussion and lasting physiological/neuropathological changes. Thus, if there isn't a persisting physical change, how are there cumulative effects? Although the lack of established findings could obviously be for a variety of reasons, including 1) there aren't any lasting changes, 2) our current methods of detecting such change aren't yet sensitive enough, 3) the changes are being lost in a variety of "noise" that isn't being properly controlled for experimentally, etc.

 

[momeNt]

The trick is in critically evaluating those studies, as many overreach in their conclusions, use subpar methods, and/or are just incorrect.

I'm certainly not saying that having multiple concussions absolutely does not result in cumulative effects. But I can say that even with multiple concussions, the expected outcome is full recovery. Whether that's drawn out can depend in large part on how you're measuring said outcome, and on a hundred different individual variables that might not be controlled very well in any one particular study.

The general idea being that there really hasn't been a solid link established between a concussion and lasting physiological/neuropathological changes. Thus, if there isn't a persisting physical change, how are there cumulative effects? Although the lack of established findings could obviously be for a variety of reasons, including 1) there aren't any lasting changes, 2) our current methods of detecting such change aren't yet sensitive enough, 3) the changes are being lost in a variety of "noise" that isn't being properly controlled for experimentally, etc.

I'm fairly sure that UCLA has actually identified the protein that is released in the brain when there is trauma, concussive trauma or subconcussive trauma. This protein when present in the brain is a marker for cognitive falloff. It all depends on the brain for how much of that protein is released when it goes under trauma, but they are developing tests to be able to see that pre-mortem.

All of the previous studies were only able to look at brains after the person had died, so there was no ability to track the cumulative effects, they could only theorize that this amount of cognitive decline had to be cumulative. That is already changing with the ability to track the proteins though.

Note that I don't think you need to think the sport is safe in order to enjoy it. I enjoy watching boxing and football and I'm pretty convinced that it is bad for your brain. I have no interest in making football or boxing safer. On the same token I also feel that athletes should be informed of the risks, and people who feel that they are defending the sport by trying to downplay the risks or disprove them, are doing the athletes a disservice.

 

[MagickMan]

So after a month of thinking it over, and weighing what I want vs. what is best for my health and my wife's peace of mind, I've decided to hang up my gloves and removed myself from the active fighters' list this morning. This is the hardest decision I've ever made, it's been very emotional. I don't blame my wife, she only cares about me, and I don't blame myself or the sport, the reality is that it's a young man's "game" and I'm just not a young man anymore. Before I do become seriously injured I need to get out.

I talked with a couple of young fighters today, one in his late teens and the other in his early 20s, both well above average in ability, and they've been looking for a trainer. I've worked with them both informally, just helping them out with tips and technique when we happen to be at the gym at the same time. It's not uncommon for good boxers to get passed by, because there's only so many trainers to go around, and if you aren't extremely gifted or lucky, you won't attract attention. But I've agreed to take them on and work with them, officially. They're both good kids and really excited about it, and I'm feeling more hopeful about the situation than I thought I would. They have a lot of bad habits I get to break them from. :twisted: :whiste:

 

[Phanuel]

And then you get to say things like, "I coulda been a contender" to them in that Marlon Brando voice and everything!

 

[momeNt]

So after a month of thinking it over, and weighing what I want vs. what is best for my health and my wife's peace of mind, I've decided to hang up my gloves and removed myself from the active fighters' list this morning. This is the hardest decision I've ever made, it's been very emotional. I don't blame my wife, she only cares about me, and I don't blame myself or the sport, the reality is that it's a young man's "game" and I'm just not a young man anymore. Before I do become seriously injured I need to get out.

I talked with a couple of young fighters today, one in his late teens and the other in his early 20s, both well above average in ability, and they've been looking for a trainer. I've worked with them both informally, just helping them out with tips and technique when we happen to be at the gym at the same time. It's not uncommon for good boxers to get passed by, because there's only so many trainers to go around, and if you aren't extremely gifted or lucky, you won't attract attention. But I've agreed to take them on and work with them, officially. They're both good kids and really excited about it, and I'm feeling more hopeful about the situation than I thought I would. They have a lot of bad habits I get to break them from. :twisted: :whiste:

Best of luck, I hope you find training them to be fulfilling. Who knows you may get so into this you might make a name for yourself as a trainer. Nobody remembers Manny Steward the boxer, they all remember him as the trainer and HBO analyst.

 

[iluvdeal]

Great choice, you get to stay involved with the sport you love and help out others. Don't slack off with your own fitness though, set some new goals for yourself there. Trainers who keep in shape have a lot more cred than overweight ones.

 

[MagickMan]

Great choice, you get to stay involved with the sport you love and help out others. Don't slack off with your own fitness though, set some new goals for yourself there. Trainers who keep in shape have a lot more cred than overweight ones.

Nah, I'm training with them. Partly to stay in shape, but also to show them that if an old man can do it, it should be easy for them.

 

[PokeyHokey]

And crush them if they get uppity haha

 

[futurefields]

Hmm. You still have a lot of fight in you. Each brain is different.

Your second sentence is exactly why you are in no position to say your first sentence. Every brain is different. Only a doctor with experience in these matters who has examined TS brain can say whether he is able to continue safely.

 

[momeNt]

Your second sentence is exactly why you are in no position to say your first sentence. Every brain is different. Only a doctor with experience in these matters who has examined TS brain can say whether he is able to continue safely.

I did not mean "fight in you" to be any judgment on his health. I meant it about his personality and how he felt about boxing. I just meant he did not want to quit.

 

[alkemyst]

This is really a H&F that should be in L&R. OP get your stuff in order at your house.

The deal is you can walk or sit. You can't change the chick you are with.

At 40, saying some prodigy lost to you is like a Rocky movie to me. Maybe you should go back in the ring and profit in this.

No. It's fine where it its.
admin allisolm

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Sorry, but this thread title just made me laugh.

 

[alkemyst]

You haven't posted your own pics yet bro.

This should have been in H&F from the start as you acknowledged.

Glad you finally recognized that it is in the right place so you won't need to be posting in this thread any more unless it is about the boxing, which he has already said he's given up.
admin allisolm

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Contact sports after college and not getting paid is not worth it.

 

[MagickMan]

You haven't posted your own pics yet bro.

This should have been in H&F from the start as you acknowledged.

I'm not that narcissistic, kiddo.

It IS in H&F and has been since the start, what are you on about?

 

[momeNt]

Going on two months. How do you feel?

 

[MagickMan]

Going on two months. How do you feel?

I feel good, I'm still working out with the same enthusiasm, though I've changed my routine, focusing more on endurance and form rather than power. I need it too, keeping up with guys half my age is some tiring s***. Sparring a couple times each week really helps take the edge off, too.