As a full combat sport in which fighters must throw and take punches in equal measure, professional boxing certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted, with every moment in the ring seeing contestants put their bodies and minds on the line in the quest for victory. Fortunately, for the overwhelming majority, when the final bell rings, a chance for rest, recovery, and sometimes celebrations await. However, the sport has also sadly seen some of its most beloved stars not make it through. With the dangers of boxing still an important discussion point today, let’s look through a brief history of boxing deaths. How has the sport grappled with these tragedies, and what safety measures have we seen implemented to reduce the risk of fatalities in the boxing ring?

Boxing’s bloody early era

Compared with the highly regulated competitions of today, the early days of boxing were brutal, bloody affairs where deaths were commonplace. The bare-knuckle era saw fighters compete without gloves or other protective equipment, throwing punches with their bare hands in matches that lasted until one fighter could no longer stand. With little to no medical oversight, brain injuries, exhaustion, and infections from wounds caused frequent fatalities that, at the time, were just part and parcel of the sport. A famous example from 1838 saw British boxer Owen Swift kill William Phelps in the ring during a match that lasted over 80 rounds. Following the match, he was arrested and convicted of manslaughter, with the fight being described as a savage event that disgraced the country. By the late 1800s, the demand for improved safety in boxing continued to grow, eventually leading to the emergence of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules in 1867. These would see gloves become mandatory while timed rounds and match limits were also introduced.

The 20th Century brings in new safety regulations

The widespread adoption of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules over the course of the 1900s saw boxing transition from unregulated bare-knuckle brawling into the modern form of boxing we still see today. Ringside doctors and referee interventions were introduced in the event of injury or one-sided affairs, while matches became limited to 12 to 15 rounds. This era would also see fighters adopt more defensive techniques, using their gloves to protect their heads while incorporating bobbing and weaving to dodge opponent attacks. Despite improved safety measures, there remained fighters who died during this era, with the objective risks surrounding boxing still clear to see. With the advent of modern healthcare, the long-term risks associated with the sport also began to become clearer.

In 1947, boxing icon Sugar Ray Robinson famously knocked out Jimmy Doyle in a welterweight world title fight that saw Doyle sent to hospital with severe head injuries. Unfortunately, Doyle would sadly pass away as a result of his injuries just seventeen hours later. What makes this event all the more tragic is that the fight is almost canceled after Robinson had a dream that he will kill Doyle in the ring. The bout ended up taking place, with Sugar Ray’s dream coming true.

While Doyle’s death continued to generate concerns regarding the safety of boxing, several high-profile fatalities occurred as the century went on. After Kim Duk-Koo died from severe brain swelling four days after his brutal fight with Ray Mancini, a harrowing event that would also see the referee and Kim’s mother commit suicide, a major uproar in the boxing community would see rule changes made to limit the risks involved. Most notably, boxing contests became limited to just 12 rounds while stricter medical testing became enforced by governing bodies. In addition, protective headgear became mandatory for junior boxers to limit the impact of repetitive head blows on long-term health.

Tragedies in the modern era

Moving into the 21st century, the development of sports science and the continued advancement of medical technology has, without doubt, had a positive impact on the overall well-being of professional boxers. With a greater understanding of the physiology of the body, trainers have been able to better understand their boxer's condition. This has enabled boxers and their trainers to establish the body’s limit, knowing when to go harder and, importantly, when to throw in the towel. However, increased emphasis on stopping fights sooner has also been influenced heavily by a number of fatal tragedies that have occurred despite improvements in safety precautions. Notably, in 2019, Russian pro Maxim Dadashev lost his bout against Subriel Matias after his trainer forfeited the fight following a grueling 11 rounds. Unfortunately, the fight was stopped too late, with Dadashev collapsing before sadly passing away some days later as a result of brain injuries. This tragedy prompted discussion across the boxing community regarding the importance of stopping fights when required, either by referees or from the corner.

As medical technology has improved, with techniques such as MRI and CT scans proving highly useful for assessing the condition of the brain, boxing has made moves to incorporate them into pre-fight medical exams to minimize the risks associated with head conditions. The case of Scottish fighter Mike Towell provides a devastating example highlighting the importance of such medical interventions. After his tragic death following a loss in the ring, it emerged that he had been advised to stop boxing by doctors following several seizures he had experienced. An inquest into his death stated that if more thorough medical assessments had been completed, the fight would not have been allowed to take place. These days, most boxing boards enforce mandatory pre-fight scans in an effort to limit tragedies like this taking place.


Ultimately, the very nature of boxing comes with an inherently high risk, and no matter how advanced medical care becomes or how strict safety regulations get, there will sadly always be a chance of harrowing fatalities taking place. It is, therefore, still of the utmost importance that the boxing industry continues to make bold changes when required, ensuring that the athlete’s welfare is held to the highest degree.