Viral News
Child Boxing Match In West Virginia Features Fight Between 9-Year-Old Kids
There’s A Boxing Event In West Virginia Involving 9-Year-Old Kids
The organization “Chill Boxing’s” flyer regarding an upcoming planned boxing match between two young boys has gotten thousands of views, comments and shares on Facebook. Some of these comments questioned the legality of a fight like this.
The competitors are 9-year-old Mason Maynard from Ashland, Kentucky. He’s known as “The Viper.” The other competitor is eight-year-old Landon VanDyke from Richlands, Virginia, known as “The Pitbull.”
“Most of the controversy and most of the negativity truly is coming from ignorance. They don’t know the sport. They don’t understand the sport,” said Connie Branner, chief official for the West Virginia Association of USA.
View this post on Instagram
The West Virginia Athletic Commission Code only regulates boxing for fighters over the age of 18 years old. However, USA Boxing regulates all boxing matches involving boxers under 18 years old.
“Our referees are taught, and this is the motto, it is better to stop a thousand fights too soon than to stop one fight too late,” Branner said. Branner said this fight will match competitors based on age, weight and experience, just like other fights.
“I’ve been doing this for 22 years, and the most significant injury I have seen was a dislocated shoulder that happened when the boxer threw his punch in an awkward position,” Branner said. She and other boxing experts said the competitors’ safety comes first.
“They have to have a physical. They have to be checked out by the ring doctor; there’s a ring doctor there. They wear headgear, groin protectors, all the equipment. It’s very safe,” said Chase Hill, owner of Chill Boxing. Hill said in the last 12 years that he’s been hosting events like this, there have not been any severe incidents.
You must be logged in to post a comment logged in Login