Japanese boxing promotion (Via Wikipedia)
Boxing is a brutal and sometimes deadly ‘sport.’ Notice the following:
Japan: Two boxers die from brain injuries at Tokyo event
The Japanese athletes, both 28 years old, were rushed into emergency surgery after competing in separate bouts on August 2.
10 August 2025
Two Japanese boxers have died within days of each other after sustaining brain injuries in separate bouts on the same fight card.
The World Boxing Federation on Saturday confirmed the deaths. The bouts took place at Tokyo’s iconic Korakuen Hall on August 2.
The deaths have reignited urgent debate over boxing safety regulations in Japan — especially the duration of fights and ringside medical protocols. https://www.dw.com/en/japan-two-boxers-die-from-brain-injuries-at-tokyo-event/a-73588147
Consider also the following:
How many boxers have died in a match?
Around 1900 boxers have died as a result of injuries sustained in a boxing match from 1884 to 2021. There were many deaths before 1890. But we can’t count these because back then because boxers fought bare-knuckle and without the rules. The famous “Queensberry Rules,” which are still in place today, came in 1884 so this is why we used this year as a starting point.
The worst year was 1953 when 22 boxers died in a single year due to the injuries they sustained in the ring. Although we lack the modern data, some studies show that there are 0.13 deaths per 1,000 participants per year (study from 2009). And on average, around 13 boxers die per year according to “The Manuel Velazquez Boxing Fatality Collection”. 05/09/22 https://medium.com/martial-arts-unleashed/why-is-boxing-a-dangerous-sport-c66164128624.
The Church of God has long opposed boxing and other violent sports. “Rules” and equipment simply do not provide sufficient protection for those involved in intentionally violent sports.
Now, here is something from Theophilus of Antioch (who was a bishop/pastor in the Church of God) perhaps written about 180 A.D.:
Consider, therefore, whether those who teach such things can possibly live indifferently, and be commingled in unlawful intercourse, or, most impious of all, eat human flesh, especially when we are forbidden so much as to witness shows of gladiators, lest we become partakers and abettors of murders. But neither may we see the other spectacles, lest our eyes and ears be defiled, participating in the utterances there sung. (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book III, Chapter XV. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition)
So, true Christians did not believe that they were to watch the violent sports so popular in the second century.
Tatian, a professing Christian apologist, wrote around 170 A.D.:
And for these the witnesses take their seats, and the boxers meet in single combat, for no reason whatever, nor does any one come down into the arena to succour. Do such exhibitions as these redound to your credit? He who is chief among you collects a legion of blood-stained murderers, engaging to maintain them; and these ruffians are sent forth by him, and you assemble at the spectacle to be judges, partly of the wickedness of the adjudicator, and partly of that of the men who engage in the combat. And he who misses the murderous exhibition is grieved, because he was not doomed to be a spectator of wicked and impious and abominable deeds (Tatian. Translated by J.E. Ryland. Tatian’s Address to the Greeks, Chapter XXIII . Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
Athenagoras, a professing Christian apologist, wrote around 170 A.D.:
What man of sound mind, therefore, will affirm, while such is our character, that we are murderers?…
Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which are given by you? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles (Athenagoras. A Plea for the Christians, Chapter XXXV. Translated by B.P. Pratten. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
Even today, true Christians and some others understand that watching brutal events intent on causing physical harm, such as real boxing, is inappropriate.
The following scripture supports the idea that violent sports will not be allowed in the Millennium:
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
As the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9, NKJV)
Because many who profess Christianity have not accepted that standard, many who do not claim Christianity see problems for those that do.
Yet, the Church of God has continued to opposed violent sports. The late Worldwide Church of God evangelist Lester Leroy Neff wrote:
Modern Christianity is a puzzle to many people. It does not really make sense.
Why?
Here is one outstanding reason.
A person reading the teachings of Jesus cannot reconcile His teachings regarding love and kindness to neighbor with the violent and bloody wars which many millions of “Christians” have participated in. No wonder there is confusion and uncertainty regarding Christianity today!
The pagans and heathens have looked at “Christianity” and have evaluated it as an hypocritical religion. It teaches love and kindness, justice and mercy, but completely fails to practice these virtues in such areas as war, big business, and brutal sports such as boxing and wrestling.
Because of the conflicts between the teaching and the actual practice of Christians, even many of the educated of our day have questioned Christianity and have accused it of failing. (Neff LL. SHOULD A CHRISTIAN FIGHT? A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Ambassador College Graduate School of Theology, 1982)
Christianity is not to be violent nor promote/encourage violence in sports.
The old Worldwide Church of God published the following:
Have you ever wondered why so many athletes look like ex-boxers? The cauliflower ears, broken noses and facial scars all attest to the reality that violence in sports has become part of the• game. The number of crippled players at hospital casualty centers after various games demonstrates how injurious many sports have become. (Marshall G. Plain Truth. July-August 1984)
Yes, the fact of massive and frequent injuries from violent sports should help Christians realize they should not watch or encourage them.
Notice what the late Herbert W. Armstrong (of the old WCG) wrote:
All Sports Not Wrong
Competition and not cooperation, is the attitude which Satan inculcates human minds. But that does not mean that all sports are wrong or to be banned. The law of God is based on the way of righteousness…The basic law is love, out flowing toward God above all else, and secondarily, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
To harm the other fellow and to gain by doing so for self is a kind of competition that is wrong. Hostility toward the other is sin…
At golf the one who wins is not the one gets the most by taking it away from the other…So golf is not a wrong competition–nor is any race at a distance, or hurdle race, or long jump, high jump, pole vault or other field competition in a track and field meet…
Boxing at Ambassador College is definitely banned. God did not create the human brain and head to be pummeled and knocked senseless by an antagonist.
Wherever a game in sports involves antagonists–in hostile attitude to harm the other and/or to “get” from the other–to get the best of the other then a harmful, satanic and evil attitude enters in, and the sport is evil, not good…
Football (American football) is a violent body-contact sport. It is often played with an attitude of hostility and is dangerous and is fraught with with physical injury. Therefore it is not played, but we do play American flag football, at Ambassador College. (Armstrong HW. An Overview from Higher Up. Plain Truth, July-August 1984, pp. 3-4)
Truly , COMPETITION, not cooperation is the attitude Satan innoculates into human minds…To HARM the other fellow, and to gain by so doing for SELF, is a kind of competition that is wrong. Hostility toward the other is sin…
Behind my back when I was away from Pasadena all but about 60 days in a year , others without my knowledge or consent got Ambassador into intercollegiate competition. THE RESULTS WERE BAD! That is OFFICIALLY
BANNED from now on…Boxing is definitely BANNED. God did not design and create the human brain and head to be pummeled and knocked senseless by an antagonist.
Wherever a game in sports involves ANTAGONISTS–in HOSTILE ATTITUDE to harm the other and/or to “GET” from the other–to get the best of the other–then a harmful, Satanic and evil attitude enters in , and the sport is EVIL, not good…
football , (American football)…because football is such a violent body contact sport , it TOO OFTEN is played in an ATTITUDE OF HOSTILITY, and is too DANGEROUS and fraught with PHYSICAL INJURY . Therefore it must be BANNED so far as participation by God’s Church or people is concerned…This is sufficient to illustrate the application of the PRINCIPLE of God’s Law to sports. That participated in with an attitude of HOSTILITY toward the opponent is evil. That which HARMS mentally or physically an opponent is evil.
Satan is the author of COMPETITION based on hostility, harm to the opponent, GETTING by taking FROM an opponent–to his harm or loss. God’s way is LOVE TOWARD neighbor equal to love of self. (Armstrong HW. Not all sports are banned. Pastor General’s Report, Volume 2, Issue 36, September 5, 1980)
Sometimes there is a fine line between what is within and what is outside God’s law.
Football (American football) is a violent body-contact sport. It too often is played in an attitude of hostility and is dangerous and fraught with physical injury. Therefore it is not played, but we do play American flag football at Ambassador.
Soccer does not embody the same evils. Baseball, softball, volleyball, while competitive, do not necessarily involve hostility, harm to others or trying to prevent the opponent from doing his best. When played in God’s attitude toward others these are acceptable and not prohibited. (Armstrong HW. An Overview from Higher Up. Plain Truth, July-August 1984)
Violent sports are played with a hostile attitude.
In the late 1980s, I once gave a speech at the old WCG Spokesman’s Club opposing football and watching the then upcoming Super Bowl game. Sadly, it was not well received.
While some who claim to be Philadelphia Christians try to justify watching American football, MMA, and/or boxing, they should realize that the comments by Herbert Armstrong were made mainly in response to how he saw supposed Christians playing and viewing sports that, of themselves, he did not oppose. He then took his criticisms of competitive sports to the next level, and did not just condemn the improper competitive attitudes of sports participants/fans, but the violent sports themselves.
The COG in the 21st century that has come out with perhaps the clearest statements condemning violent sports, including American tackle football, is the Continuing Church of God. Most others, with a USA presence, either directly or indirectly endorse it or will not condemn it (could cost them supporters and donors). Since ‘Philadelphia’ means ‘love of one’s brother,’ should not real Philadelphian Christians condemn truly violent acts against others?
Jesus also said:
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:20-21, NKJV).
Is watching American football, MMA, or boxing a deed that would be pleasing to God?
Violent sports causes great harm. No one has excuses anymore to pretend otherwise.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Is American Football Evil? Is the most popular spectator sport in the USA something that Christians should watch? What about violent sports like boxing? What do the Bible and early writings show? There is also a YouTube video available titled Should Christians watch American football?