SHOULD boxing be a male sport only? According to Amitabh Bachchan, ‘The ladies do not care much for it. Too brutal for them they say.’ That’s what he wrote on his blog after his recent meeting with British boxer Amir Khan. An old fashioned stereotypical understanding some would say. But even boxer Amir Khan has said before that he felt uneasy about the idea of women boxing. Just before the International Olympic Committee announced that women will be allowed to box in the 2012 Olympics – for the first time since 1904, the WBA light welterweight world champion said: ‘”Deep down, I think women shouldn’t fight. When you get hit it’s very painful. Women can get knocked out.” Clearly they hadn’t met Ambreen Sadiq, the UK’s first British Muslim female boxer, who has already won the national female championship for her age and weight. She has been hailed as a “pioneer” by the Amateur Boxing Association and is a role model for many Muslim girls in particular. The 15 year-old said: “I know you should not show your arms and legs off but I am not doing it so I can show my arms and legs off to the whole world. I am doing it so I can enjoy boxing. It is what I want.” Then there’s Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila, one of the most celebrated woman boxers in history, who defeated Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, daughter of her father’s old opponent Joe Frazier, on points. So, here on The Grapevine, we are asking whether you agree with the Big B and Amir Khan’s views or should women be allowed to box too?
Source: http://www.asiangrapevine.co.uk/2010/03/14/should-boxing-be-a-male-sport-only/
