Elite boxers spar with each other
A little bit ironic posting this considering one guy can barely string two sentences together and the other almost died from brain trauma and can now hardly speak or move, and needs care 24/7:
So many retired pro boxers who either have mental problems, are addicts, alcoholics, can't speak or just messed up cognition wise after their career it's legitimately overwhelming. When someone does not show signs of mental decline it's a surprise. The rest are conveniently swept under the rug.
I think it's a cop out claming that if they don't want brain trauma they shouldn't box or spar at all. Yes, obviously it's a dangerous sport and "accidents" happens, but there is a responsible and an irresponsible way to do things. There's a fine line between limiting danger, preparing a fighter and having them ready for when the going gets tough.
This would be irresponsible:
This is obviously exaggerated, but simular shit happens in so many gyms, especially boxing gyms. Guys trying to hurt and KO guys that are not on their level even. It's part of the mentality many places.
You can't really blame the fighters, well to some extent, but any fighter with gritt doesn't want to look like a pussy. If the sparring escalates, you escalate. It's the coaches job, those in the know, to control that shit. Most of these guys start boxing when they are kids, they have no real clue. We've heard a little bit about brain damage, but no one REALLY believes it will happen to them. That's just human psyche. Especially guys with good chins who can deal with punches, they just go and go. Young guys feel invincible. Sometimes you have to protect them from themselves (and especially their ego). It's like death, we do everything we can to not acknowledge it.
Anyyyyway, yes there are risks, but it's about minimizing those risk. As some others have said in this thread, controlling the sparring and putting the hammer down on guys looking for the KO (so no one looks like they quit), matching guys to spar that are at the same level, teach defense before all, do a lot of drilling and slowly build them up.
Still, with all this, it's important to recognise that fighting can be pretty brutal.