THE HURT BUSINESS: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF BOXING

Ten boxers were interviewed individually to explore how they perceived the nature of aggression in the ring and the mental skills they employed in their sport. The interview data were subjected to thematic analysis, which elicited five dominant themes: aggression and how to deal with it; control of the arousal, especially anger that comes with the territory of the sport; and the positive aspects of discipline over mind and body that is required of boxers. A final observation relates to a relative absence in these interviews. Boxers did not speak explicitly about masculinity as a factor in the sport, unless prompted.