Ya I know this stuff, which is why I get my students to spar lighter - I didn't say it was viable to consistently spar hard in kickboxing, the difference is that busted ribs and broken forearms are far less common than brain trauma
You’re comparing apples to oranges.
I'll try again. In kickboxing, busted ribs and broken forearms are less common because A) the competitive pool is way smaller than boxing B) they don’t spar all out anyways because you’re more likely to pick up injuries cancelling your fight or at the least, affecting you negatively for it.
No dineros then.
Boxing has a far bigger pool of competitors. Not only will the gross amount of CTE be more but you fail to appreciate the fact that boxing is intrinsically a much more vicious sport than kickboxing of mma and, due to the prize money / pot at the end of the rainbow, attracts a more skilled / hungry / meaner athlete. Generally speaking.
To make it at the top levels, you have to do it this way. These ppl don’t care about the possibility that, maybe in the distant future, they might have issues.
The ones who care / overthink that shit don’t make it. Exceptions apply.
All things being more or less equal, the guy who’s been putting in that work in the office is going to outhustle / overwhelm the guy who’s been holding back.
Maybe this example might help. In kickboxing, I’m sure you’ve come across guys who just aren’t comfortable throwing low kicks because they think they’re gonna Anderson Silva their shins.
You may help them get over their reticence but you can see / feel it’s always there.
Now you n me both know that unless they get over that 100% (and most likely they won’t now that’s it in their head) they’ll never reach those top levels.
It’s a bit like that.
That being said, there are limits to how much hard sparring you should be doing in camp.
In the amateurs, and I’m talking national / state / international level, we get the kids to go about twice a week but keeping a strict eye on them.
Headgear but competition 12oz gloves. The head coach is a Cuban (ex national team - alternate), Olympic / WC / CW medal getting coach 25+ years in the game.
I’ve never seen any of ex students show any signs of brain trauma. He says it the same in Cuba. At that level, they can all take care of themselves / coaches are watching them like a hawk.
There are a few but it’s rare and those are the ones who always overdid it, unsupervised, not listening, village competitions etc.
Pro boxing, I know a lot of the coaches strictly schedule how many sessions a week, how many weeks etc etc.
They’ll schedule weaker partners for the first third of camp, to get the guy in tune, stronger ones towards the middle. Weed out any who’s getting to their guy, if any, towards the end and then finish strong.
CTE is generally those professional sparring partners who are brought in knowing they’re just warm ups for the main sparring partners. And those ones who just love to soar high all the time like a James Toney.
Incidentally, guys who are known for strong defences, Pernell Whitaker / Ali etc are more likely to get it. Why ? Because they have to work on their craft and it isn’t going to be by sparring guys who are playing patty cake. That shit would never work in competition then.
Boxing’s also a very individualistic sport where some guys just don’t wanna listen and just wanna keep working in there regardless of whether their skilled enough for this unbridled approach.
Anyways, this last para I was just riffing. Point is, joe blow shouldn’t be overly worried about CTE as long as he isn’t constantly getting his bell ring hard.
And let the pros / competitive ammys bang, bro.
