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Carl Frampton admits he expects dementia in later life as debate continues over safety of boxing

Photo of Carl Frampton
-Credit:INPHO/Stephen Hamilton


The risk of serious injury in boxing was brought into sharp focus once again after John Cooney had to undergo emergency brain surgery following Saturday night's Ulster Hall fight night.

The super-featherweight boxer suffered an intracranial haemorrhage and underwent immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain after his bout against Welshman Nathan Howells was stopped in the ninth round.

It has once again raised questions about safety in the sport. Appearing on Tuesday's The Nolan Show, two-weight world champion Carl Frampton said he tended to block the risks out of his mind as a fighter but since retiring he has thought about how it may impact him now.

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The 37-year-old made the stark admission that he expects to develop "dementia or some sort of brain injury" in later life given what he put his body through but added he gets yearly check-ups and everything is Ok at this stage.

"I wouldn't say I worry about it but I have been to see some specialists just to have my brain checked out and make sure it's working as it should be and that there's no deterioration with it," the Belfast man said.

"I go back for a check-up on a yearly basis to make sure I'm still OK and touch wood I am at this stage. Given the longevity of my career I'm expecting at some point to have dementia or some sort of brain injury, but I'm just hoping it's when I'm 75-years-old and not 50.

"If you look at what's going on in the sport and the amount of former boxers this happens to, but I'm OK with it I'm not worried. Obviously I hope I don't get it. I wouldn't want to be a burden on anyone or anything like that.

"It's part of the game and that's a horrible thing to say as it's sounds flippant, but if you're in professional boxing, and I'm going to separate it from amateur boxing as I think that amateur boxing is actually quite a safe sport as referees jump in quicker, fights are stopped when kids are getting hurt and they use bigger gloves.

"The professional side of the game can be very brutal though. As a fighter you probably just put it to the back of your mind. You know that there's a risk and if you actually sat there and thought about it you know you're in a dangerous sport.

"For me though it was something I never really thought about. I was boxing to better the life of my family. I obviously wanted to win titles but for me it was about security especially as my career developed.

"I'm one of the lucky ones who has a secure life for the time being and the kids are in a good position, but it's few and far between so I would class myself one of the very lucky ones. I did have fights where I fought the wrong fight and maybe took too many punches, or punches that I didn't have to take.

"Sometimes that's down to trying to impress the crowd, but you put the risks to the back of your mind. Looking back I probably sparred too much. I sparred guys that were too big for me as well, and at the time I got a bit of a macho feel out of that. With hindsight I probably wouldn't have sparred as much, it's just trauma on your head and brain that you don't need."

John Cooney
John Cooney -Credit:©INPHO/Tom Maher

Frampton believes there are things which can be done to improve safety for boxers especially in the build up to fights. "I can't comment on John's fight as I didn't see it. What has happened John is heartbreaking and this is one of the horrible risks in the sport I love so much," he said.

"In general I think nutrition needs to be looked at as I think that's where a lot of these serious injuries are stemming from. More can be done especially with the weigh-ins a day and a half before a fight meaning fighters are going into fights dehydrated.

"People are talking about head guards and stuff, but I don't think that makes it safer as there has been research done showing head guards only really stop cuts from happening, not trauma to the head or brain."

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