Boxing: How We Can All Do Better – Steven Sulley Speaks with journalist, author and host of Boxing Life Stories Tris Dixon
Tris has dedicated over 20 years of his life into boxing, it began when he left school and started to box as part of his training for Rugby. Once at university he combined boxing with his passion and skill for writing and this is how he started in the world of journalism; including being the former editor of boxing news. He is now an author and has also recorded and released over 150 episodes for his podcast Boxing Life Stories in just three years.
Tris was lucky to begin writing in an extremely hyped and exciting era of boxing including big names such as former world champion Chris Eubank and “The Cat” Carl Thompson. There has always been quite a violent perception around boxing and whilst in some cases this can be true both Tris and Steven attribute a lot of their life success to the principles, discipline and mindset they gained from starting to box. Boxing empowers individuals and helps them develop strength, confidence and self-esteem; something that a lot of boys and young men could gain tremendous benefit from. This, and the fact that knife and violent crime drops where there are boxing clubs is why Steven wants to see boxing introduced as a sport more in communities and schools around the UK.
A lot has been learnt about the longer-term effects of boxing in recent years but the development of the sport around both this knowledge and various training techniques is still lacking in some areas and is somewhat behind when compared to other sport development. This is something both Steven and Tris are passionate about. Steven believes that the slow changes we are seeing in boxing culture, away from frequent physical head sparring and focusing more on recovery, diet and the right type of weight training is very positive and something more of the boxing world, including amateur clubs, can really embrace and learn from. Tris’ most recent book, Damage, The Untold Story of Brain Trauma In Boxing, explores the impact and longer term effects of boxing on the brain, specifically around sparring, how the condition CTE can develop and the devastating impact this can have on boxers and their families. It’s never been more important to take heed this knowledge and continue to research the consequences boxing has on the body, the brain and what we can do to counteract this.
All of this considered demonstrates why taking boxing, training and sparring especially, seriously is so important. It is a sport, sometimes a dangerous one and this must be considered at all times. This is one of the key reasons Tris has such a strong opinion around ‘entertainment boxing’. The likes of the Logan brothers and other YouTube fighters are not considered sportsmen to Tris. He believes it is irresponsible of promoters, TV and even viewers to engage with fights that put boxers in danger. We all have a responsibility to understand and acknowledge the dangers of boxing, especially for older boxers or those with previous injuries, and put these ahead of any entertainment or monetary value.
Tris’ Book on Boxing & Brain Trauma: Damage, The Untold Story of Brain Trauma In Boxing
Tris’ Podcast: Boxing Life Stories