I started boxing four years ago, excited for the challenge of pushing myself physically and mentally. Ever since, I have tried focusing on technique and endurance to improve my skills in the ring. I am also a trainer and as I continue to learn on the job, I’ve become more aware of the risks that are involved, like repeated headshots.

There’s an ongoing discussion about which sport is more dangerous, mixed martial arts (MMA) or traditional boxing. Both sports are risky, but boxing has been proven to be more dangerous than MMA for many reasons.

One difference between boxing and MMA is the way fighters engage. Boxers focus on punches that are thrown to the head and body. They are trained to throw powerful and repeated blows to the head, especially in specific areas where a punch can knock out an opponent. The head is not only a vulnerable part of the body, but it holds the brain and is open to serious injuries such as concussions and bleeding.
Brain injuries are a serious concern in boxing, given the physicality of the sport and the nonstop head damage. Concussions, which occur when the brain moves inside the skull and causes serious harm, are one of the most common injuries in boxing. Another injury connected to boxing is chronic traumatic brain injury, which is connected with head trauma. A boxer can take years or even decades to recover from these injuries, whose symptoms include memory loss and loss of body mobility.

One of the most captivating illustrations of these dangers involves Prichard “Dickie” Colon, a Puerto Rican boxer who suffered a life-changing injury inside the ring. In a 2015 match against Terrel Williams, Colon received constant head shots which led to a brain bleed. The fight was stopped in the ninth round after Colon showed signs of distress, but by then, it was too late. Colon suffered a traumatic brain injury.

The total number of hard punches boxers take in a boxing match puts them at a higher risk of long-term health problems compared to MMA fighters, where the style is less focused on headshots.

Boxing matches also tend to last longer than MMA fights with 12 three-minute rounds. This means there is more opportunity for head trauma than in MMA, where rounds are usually shorter in length. Boxers can take continual hits for as long as 36 minutes while in a MMA match, if a fighter is knocked down the fight is over.

Although MMA has its own risks, especially in the potential for joint injuries, the impact of head trauma in boxing is a serious factor.