By: Sean Crose
Truth be told, it was the most beautiful Michael Conlan ever seen. Fighting for the WBA lightweight title, the man not only took down Leigh Wood at the end of the first set, he continued to fire hard and land well in front of the defending champion a few rounds later. It does not matter. Nothing important. In the end, Conlan was finally literally knocked off the ring by Leigh before lying unconscious on the floor of Nottingham’s arena of the same name. Everyone, including Leigh, was deeply saddened by the brutal end of the war. Conlan left the arena on a stretcher, and it will be some time before news comes that the former Olympic athlete is alert and responsive.
It’s really ugly. It’s scary. And it is a very important part of the sport of boxing. For this is an endeavor where extreme danger is simply part of the landscape. Fortunately, much has changed since Duk Koo Kim died in a fight with Ray Mancini in November 1982. The boxer’s health is now a real concern for ring officials and doctors. . People are not afraid to make the mistake of caution if things start to look alarming for the fighter. It’s a good thing. But there is no way to make boxing completely safe. Boxing is, by its very nature, an extremely dangerous endeavor.
Of course, boxers are not gladiators. They fight to prove who is more skilled, not to end or ruin a life. That’s why boxing isn’t immoral by its very nature – because serious harm is not the intention. However, serious harm is part of doing business, intentional or not. My brother-in-law Michael texted me when it was reported that Conlan was awake and alert. “If we knew he was fine,” he wrote, “(then) it was a great battle.” Michael was right, of course. If Conlan came out of this experience no worse for wear, the fight with Wood would be considered a classic. If he didn’t, the fight with Wood would be considered a tragedy. Such is the strange dual nature of contact sports, the main of which is boxing.
People say they “put it all on the line” to achieve their goals all the time. Real boxers do it, week in, week out, for the world to see. And it’s glorious, terrifying, reckless, selfless, admirable and tragic at the same time. Here is hope and prayer Conlan emerges from this experience without permanent damage.
