Today in Boxing History: JAMA calls for boxing abolition

On this day in 1983, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) declared that boxing should be banned in all civilized countries.

The notion of banning boxing was discussed even during the sport’s golden age. However, this was the first occasion that the American Medical Association (AMA) had made such a statement. George D. Lundberg, the editor of JAMA, cited the high prevalence of brain damage in professional boxers who have had a substantial number of fights as part of the basis of the AMA’s position.

Since then, other medical organizations have supported this position and the AMA and Lundberg have revisited this issue several times since 1983. An argument could be made that the initial report helped lead to some boxing reforms, such as shorter fights and quicker referee stoppages.

However, it is highly unlikely that boxing will ever be banned in the United States.