THE KNOCK-OUT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1931, Page 2

THE KNOCK-OUT

CAUSES AND EFFECTS. “ ——Seven—Eight—Nine—Out!” And so hundreds of regular fight followers see a referee finish the count over a fallen boxer, register a knock-out win for his opponent, and sit back for the next contest (says an Australian writer). But since the McCarthy incident interest has been stirred in the real characteristic of the knockout—tile most decisive way to victory in boxing. While any punch which fells a man so that he cannot rise within ten seconds is generally termed a knockout, the two main k.o. punches are those with either hand to the point of the jaw or to tha mark, more commonly known as the solar plexus. The ‘'points” are jawbone regions ftbdut an |inch long oh either side of the chin, not tha chin itself, as many people believe, and a punch to either of .them jolts a nerve contra and causes paralysis of consciousness, On each side of the head the jawbone points fit into small sockets, behind which is a thin temporal bone.. The punch forces it up to this temporal bone, and in turn gives a sudden and dangerous shock to the base of the brain. This shock frequently has resulted in concussion and haemorrhage—such as McCarthy sustained. The intensity of the shock and the extent of probable concussion depends on the severity of the punch. Not every knockout blow to the point is solid enough to cause concussion. The majority of knockouts are by punches which have connected just sufficiently to give a brief shock to the brain base and working fleeting paralysis of consciousness. The point knockout is a mental collapse, causing shock rather than pain. MAY CAUSE LUNACY. A number of severe knockouts disturb the brain so seriously as to bring on lunacy, and steps have been taken by bodies controlling American boxing to put “punch drunk” boxers out of the game before they reach actual lunacy. Easily the most effective point knockout is a swift cross-counter punch. It travels at right angles straight to the point and carries full leverage. In direct contrast the knockout on the mark is a physical and not a mental collapse. It has been proved than a man knocked out by a punch to the mark can think, see, and possess his full senses—but cannot move. When the solar plexus is struck a nerve known to the medical profession as the vagus nerve is affected, and the paralysis of movement which follows this shock to the midriff is the condition known as winded. It is a sudden stoppage of respiration. A solid knockout to the mark may prove fatal. In a Melbourne fight a few years ago it took medical assistance to revive a boxer knocked out in a minor oout this way.

1 He said later that, while being counted out he could see everything going on, the frantic commotion in his corner, but he could not move. He was like a man wholly paralysed.