YES - Francis Loughlin, Northern Ireland convenor, Community and Youth Workers' Union
I fail to see how any activity whose chief purpose is to cause such harm to someone that they are physically unable to continue can have the audacity to describe itself as a sport.
Furthermore, how this activity can then be cited as an admirable development tool for young people offering self-control and an outlet for aggression suspends believe. Boxing isn't an outlet for aggression, boxing is aggression.
Participants succeed or fail based on their level of aggression. Boxers excel by dehumanising their opponent: they don't see a person in front of them, they see a target.
Not only should local authorities ban boxing, but we all need to look again at its legitimacy as a sport. Has Frank Bruno benefited from his years as Britain's favourite sportsman? Does Muhammed Ali deserve the physical payback gained from being the world's greatest sporting hero?
The mixture of pity and repulsion we feel for these boxers shows exactly what boxing does: it robs some of their soul and others of their mind, it steals morality and punishes humanity.
NO - Jim Atkinson, honorary secretary, Fitzroy Lodge, Amateur Boxing Club, Lambeth, London
The place of amateur boxing in the youth work curriculum is secure. The London Youth championships demonstrated yet again the appeal of this increasingly popular sport to young people (YPN, 12-18 November, p3).
The local authorities in London such as Lambeth, where we are based, are very supportive. Even the borough of Newham, which used to deny the sport access to its facilities, is reported to have changed its policy. All over the country amateur clubs are being involved in schemes such as the Home Office's Positive Futures programme.
In my day job as a leisure consultant, I have just completed a piece of research on amateur boxing for the Home Office. Far from being on the ropes at club level, the sport is right in the thick of programmes that make a difference in the lives of young people.
YES - Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics, British Medical Association
Local authorities should ban young people from boxing. The sport causes brain damage since blows received during a fight cause the brain to move within the skull, damaging blood vessels, nerves and brain tissue.
Acute brain haemorrhage is the leading cause of boxing deaths, while participants can also damage their eyes, ears and nose, which can lead to permanent loss of sight or hearing.
Children's boxing is sometimes defended on the grounds that young people learn to work through their aggression with discipline and control. However, there are many other sports, such as athletics, swimming, judo and football, that require just as much discipline, but do not pose the same threat to the brain.
The British Medical Association has asked all local authorities that currently support boxing to review their stance in light of the proven health dangers.
NO - Peter Hunter, director of development, London Youth
I think that boxing helps young people control aggression. They are trained in self-discipline and respect, with fighters shaking hands after a bout.
It's a sport governed by some stringent rules. For instance, fighters have to undergo a medical before they enter the ring. Since it is a contact sport, there are also a lot of safeguards in place, such as participants having to wear protective headgear.
Boxing can benefit young people in many ways. It not only helps them to get fit, but they build tremendous relationships. Often there is great mentoring and support between a young person and their coach.
Many young people give up a lot of their time to be committed to this constructive activity. And a lot of young people who are on the fringes of society find it a sport they can feel comfortable with. Some even get recognised and go on to represent their county or even their country.
