Boxing - one of the world’s greatest and most dangerous sports. Providing a safe haven and purpose to the lives of millions across the globe, the sport of boxing would transform into an artform as it rocketed to popularity in the golden television era of the 1960s. Over the years many have gone on to perfect this art, going on to compete in professional bouts and world title fights alike. To reach this stage in a sport as demanding as boxing is no easy feat, with boxers dedicating their lives and sacrificing the unthinkable in order to simply compete. However for each fighter comes a time in which they must step away from the ring for the final time, and hang up the gloves for good. Whilst many move into fields such as punditry or coaching after acknowledging the end of their careers, others just cannot come to terms with the fact that their time in the sport is over. This has caused many fighters to hit rock bottom, with some even turning to drugs and alcohol as they battle their inner demons.
Through the creation of this documentary, I am putting the spotlight onto the daunting journey embarked on by fighters across the planet. As I delve into this complex issue, I will be conducting plenty of research and speaking to experts from various fields, in a bid to understand what causes this serious issue amongst fighters. Why boxers struggle with mental health, why retirement is so hard to cope with, and what can happen if they don’t call it quits at the appropriate moment, are all questions that I am going to answer over the course of this project. Through the production of my documentary, I also aim to bring awareness to the apparent lack of support network for boxers struggling with retiring from the sport they love, and show to audiences why these athletes need more help than any others.
This is #bowingout