MIGHTS OF FIST WITHIN THE RING.

As a young budding politician and a massive military enthusiast, "fighting" has always interested me.

I have seen people fight vicious battles for power/ideologies/freedom, and patients fight for their lives in intensive care units.
That is probably why people fighting as a sport does not amuse me.

Ever since I saw clips of Emile Griffith landing mortal blows on Benny Paret, not on the battlefield, but in a boxing ring, live on television and with thousands of spectators cheering, I have abstained from seeing boxing bouts (though I did see a clip of the 11th round of Joshua vs Klitschko sometime ago).
A little background story:

In 1961, Emile Griffith lost his title to Benny Paret. Known as "The Pretty Kid", Paret was a Cuban immigrant from a poor family. Boxing was seen as his way to stardom, and wealth.
After the bout, Griffith asked for a rematch and he made a statement that would prove to be prophetic - that if Paret would fight him again "I would like to kill him."

A rematch was arranged in 1962. It was to be the first ever televised boxing match. The build-up to the rematch was toxic. Paret taunted Griffith and labelled him a gay. This was no small accusation: in 1962, being openly gay in a male sport like boxing would effectively end your career.

The taunt infuriated Griffith so much that he wanted to attack Paret at the press conference before the match. But his coach restrained him and told him to save all for the bout.
And so he did.

In round 12, a flurry of punches trapped Paret in the ropes and Griffit continued battering him until the referee stepped in to stop the fight. It was too late. Paret slumped, never to stand again. He didn't recover from the brain haemorrhage that Griffith's blows caused and slipped from coma to death.