Morality of Boxing

[jjg]

If a boxer went into the ring with the intent on murder and succeeds would it be considered a crime (not that you could ever prove it)?

[Furrowed Brow]

I think Mike Tyson in fight build up would sometimes threaten he was going to kill the opponent. I think if a fighter dies, and sometimes sadly they do, and it is within the rules of the sport then it is not murder. Even if the death of an opponent is wish fulfilment for the boxer who threw the killer punches.

However, if a boxer, say started to kick his opponent when he was down, then I suspect he would end up on a murder charge.

However, boxers who end up dead or brain damaged after a single fight, tend to come from the lower weight divisions. To meet weight has required fasting and reduction of liquid intake. There is some concern that this lead to less protective fluid around the brain. Thus when a fighter dies, it could be argued it is down to the negligence of the boxer himself, his trainers and whatever boxing authorities are responsible for licensing the fight.

[otseng]

Interesting question that you pose. However, I don't see the relevence to Christianity or religion in the topic. I've moved it to RR.

[McCulloch]

This reminds me of another hypothetical.

A man tries to shoot his wife. She fell onto the floor and avoided the bullet. Meanwhile another person in the apartment above had jumped out of the window, attempting suicide. As he passed by the window of the first couple, he intercepted the bullet going out the window and died before he hit the ground.

Ignore the improbabilities. Is the first man guilty of murder? He intended to kill and his actions led to someone's death. But the person he intended to kill lived and the person he killed, would have died minutes later and fully intended to die.

[jjg]

But the man commiting suicide loaded the gun. There is no reason for the parents to be charged.

[Vladd44]

It would be almost impossible to prove intent in a boxing ring, the fact that both people entered the ring with intent to do bodily harm to each other.

However for McCulloch's situation, clearly it would be a 1st degree murder case, along with an attempted first degree murder.

In MOST states if you kill someone during the commission of a premeditated crime you are guilty of premeditated murder, even if there was NO original intent to murder anyone.

For example, if you plan a robbery, and in the attempt your partner kills an innocent bystander in most states you both can be charged with Murder 1.

The health (mental or otherwise) of an unintended victim is not a mitigating factor, It might have been their right to hit the concrete and die, but it is not anyone elses right to shoot them before they hit the ground.

[Greatest I Am]

If a boxer went into the ring with the intent on murder and succeeds would it be considered a crime (not that you could ever prove it)?

In criminal you have a thing called "Menes ray" Latin for the need of intent to do harm.
Intent, determines if a crime was planed or not. If planed guilt is present. If nit then, not.

In your scenario intent would need to be proven.

In the case of sports, it is recognized that participants are in fight flight mode often in the course of the sport. We are more lenient in these cases.

Your living boxer is guilty of the crime but unless he killed in a novel way then you are correct in stating he is guilty. He is not likely to receive justice.


Regards
DL