Impact of Legislative Reforms on the Reduction of Deaths in Professional Boxing

Abstract

The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of legal and regulatory reforms on reducing mortality in professional boxing by analyzing historical data on deaths from traumatic brain injury before and after key regulatory changes (reduction of rounds, medical requirements, glove regulations), in order to determine the effectiveness of these modifications and propose improvements to current legislation. Boxing is a sport with a long history and global popularity, but its violent nature poses health risks to athletes. Deaths in the ring have sparked medical, legal, ethical, and social debates: although boxers assume certain risks, institutions are responsible for safeguarding their integrity. Brain damage, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), is one of the greatest risks, and some advocate for stricter regulation—including comprehensive medical examinations and limits on the number of fights—to mitigate these dangers. However, critics argue that serious injuries are inevitable due to the nature of the sport. In this context, there is debate over whether boxing should be banned or if it can be regulated to reduce risks without eliminating its cultural and economic value. Data indicates that federation regulations have positively reduced injuries, especially deaths in the sport.