Would You Let Your Eight-Year-Old Cage Fight?
TweetA UK event featuring kids as young as eight cage fighting in front of an audience of 200 adults has created a storm of public controversy, as the parents and club involved have ardently defended their actions.
Police investigated the event, which recently took place at Greenlands New Labour Social Club in Preston, England, and discovered no wrong-doing on the part of the parents or the venue. However, Internet footage of the fights, including this UK news story, have prompted public outrage.
The main complaint with the event is the lack of safety gear — none of the children shown are wearing protective padding or headgear — and the club-like atmosphere of the events, which are full of yelling adults and alcohol.
The club owner, Michelle Anderson, countered this critique, saying that the fighting shown isn’t true cage fighting and potential for injury isn’t there.
“The children were not doing cage fighting, they were just grappling,” she told the Associated Press. “There was no punching, kicking or striking.” One video also depicts a child getting medical attention by a doctor.
A father whose child participated calls the event “a controlled sport, with no punching or kicking,” and doesn’t regret his decision to let his son fight. But the British Cage Fighting Association has a different opinion.
“It’s not illegal, it’s immoral,” said Mark Lyons, the head of the British Cage Fighting Association,.
“If it was in a gymnasium or a club environment, it’s quite acceptable, but in an environment where there’s alcohol involved and scantily clad women knocking about, it’s not the ideal situation for any child, ” he said. “Any parent who sticks their kid in an environment like that has got to be a moron.”
Annie Hauser, Senior Editor
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