Letter: Boxing: the camaraderie and the tragedy

From Dr M. Jamil

Sir: If the death of the young boxer James Murray on Sunday morning helps to bring this nation to its senses, and makes us realise that boxing is merely a legalised form of manslaughter and not a sport, then maybe his death was not in vain.

It is about time the UK followed the example set by the Scandinavian countries and banned this shameful "sport". Claims that clandestine fights would become a major problem are nonsense. Cockfighting was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in this country in years gone by before it was banned. Now that it has been banned, do we have a major problem with illicit underground cockfights organised in this country?

It might be possible to achieve the ban on boxing more speedily if Drew Docherty, the boxer who inflicted the fatal injuries on James Murray, were to be arrested and charged with manslaughter, unlawful killing or even murder. All the promoters of this event who made a profit out of this man's death should be charged with being accessories - including the television companies who broadcast these degenerate spectacles into this nation's living rooms.

Everyone involved, the ghouls who watch this savagery, and even the owners of the Hospitality Inn in Glasgow, who rented out their hall for this event, have this young man's blood on their hands.

Yours sincerely,

M. Jamil

Department of Surgery

Luton & Dunstable Hospital

Luton,

Bedfordshire

16 October