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When In Doubt, Stop the Bout: A Revolutionary Approach to Boxing Safety and Reform
“Since the inception of the Marquess of Queensberry rules boxing has understood the need to be safer. While there have been some rule changes through the years, many have been like applying an ‘enswell’ to reduce swelling. In his latest book, When in Doubt Stop the Bout, Mike Silver asks the hard questions and offers serious and innovative solutions that will make the sport safer without diluting its primal appeal. Anyone who cares about boxing and the fighters who put themselves at risk should read this book.”—Teddy Atlas, Hall of Fame trainer and boxing analyst
In When in Doubt, Stop the Bout, renowned boxing historian Mike Silver presents a shocking exposé of the sordid underbelly of professional boxing, and uncovers the sport’s criminally flawed infrastructure and those responsible for it.
From compromised referees to poorly trained ringside physicians to an insidious cartel of “sanctioning organizations” approving dangerous mismatches, Silver lays bare the corruption, the negligence, and the incompetence that has made a dangerous sport even more dangerous.
But aside from unmasking the chaotic mess that afflicts boxing, this book for the first time proposes groundbreaking practical solutions that will mitigate the danger and save lives. Penetrating and persuasive, When in Doubt, Stop the Bout will change forever how you see the sport of boxing.
“Mike Silver is the Sugar Ray Robinson of boxing writers—smooth, smart, powerful, and tough to beat. The good news is that you can step in the ring with him and not get hurt.”—Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Life and A Life
“Lots of people know boxing, but not many understand Its spirit, its significance, its storied past and probable future. Mike Silver is one of the few. Anything he writes is essential reading for the true fan.”—David Margolick, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and author of Beyond Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and a World on the Brink
Praise for The Arc of Boxing
“Lively . . . Silver explored the magic, studied the history.”―Philadelphia Daily News
“If you care about boxing . . . its future, its past, or both . . . then you have to read this book . . . thoroughly researched . . . articulately argued.”―Newsday
“True aficionados, whether they ultimately agree with Silver or not, are sure to enjoy his book for its unmistakable knowledge and passion.”―The Ring
In When in Doubt, Stop the Bout, renowned boxing historian Mike Silver presents a shocking exposé of the sordid underbelly of professional boxing, and uncovers the sport’s criminally flawed infrastructure and those responsible for it.
From compromised referees to poorly trained ringside physicians to an insidious cartel of “sanctioning organizations” approving dangerous mismatches, Silver lays bare the corruption, the negligence, and the incompetence that has made a dangerous sport even more dangerous.
But aside from unmasking the chaotic mess that afflicts boxing, this book for the first time proposes groundbreaking practical solutions that will mitigate the danger and save lives. Penetrating and persuasive, When in Doubt, Stop the Bout will change forever how you see the sport of boxing.
“Mike Silver is the Sugar Ray Robinson of boxing writers—smooth, smart, powerful, and tough to beat. The good news is that you can step in the ring with him and not get hurt.”—Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Life and A Life
“Lots of people know boxing, but not many understand Its spirit, its significance, its storied past and probable future. Mike Silver is one of the few. Anything he writes is essential reading for the true fan.”—David Margolick, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and author of Beyond Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and a World on the Brink
Praise for The Arc of Boxing
“Lively . . . Silver explored the magic, studied the history.”―Philadelphia Daily News
“If you care about boxing . . . its future, its past, or both . . . then you have to read this book . . . thoroughly researched . . . articulately argued.”―Newsday
“True aficionados, whether they ultimately agree with Silver or not, are sure to enjoy his book for its unmistakable knowledge and passion.”―The Ring
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2025
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April 3, 2026
Mike Silver cares. You can’t question that. The introduction to When In Doubt Stop The Bout nearly put me off turning the pages, though… and I wish it did.
Straight away, the suggestion that boxers nowadays have no desire for defence and favour pure aggression is lazy hyperbole. Come on, man. Floyd Mayweather, the highest paid boxer in history, hasn’t long retired and he happened to be one of the best defensive operators of all time. There are plenty of other examples, too. Shakur Stevenson, Oleksandr Usyk, Dmitry Bivol etc. - many of today’s leaders have great defences. It’s a necessity to succeed in any era. Later on in the book, Silver categorically (and literally) says that boxing skills have deteriorated in modern times and that blocking, ducking, parrying, slipping, side stepping, weaving and rolling are no longer taught. This is pure, senile fantasy. It’s insulting to the reader’s intelligence.
The introduction also moans that some boxers are fighting for world titles after 10 or so fights, while completely ignoring the context of amateur and professional codes being more similar than ever at the top level. It didn’t need to misrepresent these points to set out its stall. The claim that standing eight counts are part of the safety problem is also genuinely 100% wrong… because they don’t exist in professional boxing. Maybe he means mandatory eight counts, which are a completely different thing, but that blatant error did make me question the accuracy of other information that follows. Up to here, I’ve only covered the introduction. It gets worse.
There are so many inconsistent arguments that choose to focus on certain facts, while omitting others, to attempt to prove Silver right. In one chapter, he bemoans how removing head guards has led to more cuts in amateur boxing (despite the decision leading to less concussions). Two chapters later, he’s making the contradictory point that going bareknuckle would be better for concussions and brain injuries, even though nearly every BKB fight ends with horror-show cuts. One moment preventing cuts is important to Silver, and then it’s not. This inconsistent flip flopping, solely in order to prove himself right, is impossible to take seriously. It’s compounded when he then speaks to one solitary expert and cites a 60+ year old study… oh, I forgot to mention movie actor James Cagney is quoted to ‘strengthen’ Silver’s position. We’re reading Donald Trump levels of comprehension.
Silver’s romanticised view of the past is infuriatingly selective in which parts to celebrate and equally selective in which parts of more modern times to condemn. The chapter where he ‘analyses’ 14 fights where a fatality has occurred is awfully unprofessional. There is no criteria as to why he’s chosen this list, other than it proves his arguments.. a fact he accidentally admits. Why limit it to 14 and why choose those 14 from over 110+ deaths in the time period he’s chosen? Because the other cases may not support his arguments. I’m not sure he understands why this is blatant confirmation bias.
The book’s approach falls short of acceptable standards in many other ways. It doesn’t further explore or elaborate on legitimate points raised by others, such as the referee’s idea for officials not to register with sanctioning bodies. I suspect it’s because Silver only cares about his own ideas. He also doesn’t present both sides of arguments - only his own - and he doesn’t seem to have made any meaningful attempt to understand or contend with conflicting opinions. These counter-positions are barely mentioned or even referenced because Silver knows best, just take his word for it.
Another failing is that the book is so American centric. At one point, Silver claims the Celtic title is unknown, despite being a fully recognised stepping stone for one of world boxing’s biggest hotbeds and a key part of the UK scene’s meritocracy. It allows a boxer to prove themselves at a certain level before progressing (or not) further up the hierarchy having earned the right to face tougher opposition. That is the type of experience Silver consistently highlights as lacking in the sport at other parts of the book. That the context of John Cooney’s death is misrepresented like this is at best careless and at least disrespectful.
Boxing will never be safe. There is no touch rugby or five-a-side football (or flag football for Americans) version of the sport. It ultimately involves, whatever way you dress it up, punching someone’s head to shake their brain into involuntary submission. Throw in the complications of dehydration to make weight (which Silver addresses poorly), and the lethal risk is multiplied. We should, however, recognise that there is more care now than ever. Pre-fight medicals are better, awareness of CTE is higher, and the acute care at ringside with paramedics and ambulances has improved over the last 30 years. That is, however, not a reason to stop making more improvements. There is plenty of best practice but there are no universal standards, and that is the biggest problem.
There is constant misunderstanding of correlation vs causation throughout this book. There is also a false equivalence drawn that more bouts and experience = less death. Very few boxers get to 40+ bouts nowadays, whereas that was common in yesteryear. Experience is picked up with more time in the gym, longer training camps etc. Even novice pros will talk of ‘camps’ for four/six rounders, so it’s hardly like they are fast forwarded to title fights having not prepared for it in the gym. How Silver omits this fact when making his arguments feels like the type of cherrypick many matchmakers would be proud of. He obsesses about mismatches causing deaths but most mismatches end early and without serious injuries, whereas most deaths happen late into fights. When two boxers are so well-matched, they push each other past their physical limits and into the danger zone. If they were true mismatches, these fights wouldn’t last so long, but this reality is lost on Silver. It strikes me that he may have been around boxing for a long time, but it’s been a long time since he’s been in it.
I also take exception to the focus on recent deaths while skimming over deaths in previous eras. Every boxer who has lost a life in the ring could have benefitted from greater care, not just modern ones. Johnny Owen would still be alive today if the pre-fight checks that exist now were around in the 80s. Silver spends very little time assessing cases like this, but has hyper-focus on recent deaths as if it’s a modern phenomenon. And do only deaths caused by acute injuries count? What about the chronic conditions that develop in later life like ALS, CTE, Parkinson’s etc.? These were more prevalent in boxers of previous eras who died way before their time, but because it wasn’t directly after a fight Silver seems to skip over them. The fact is that plenty of fighters from yesteryear also paid too high a price. Silver gives six measly pages to CTE despite it leading to the deaths of far more boxers than those who die due to acute injuries.
I find it pretty odd the way publishers Hamiclar have positioned this book: “… for the first time proposes groundbreaking practical solutions that will mitigate the danger and save lives.” The only practical suggestion he really proposes are shorter fights. There’s very little substance to other ideas. Anyway, Hamiclar published Damage by Tris Dixon, who is richer in experience and proximity to boxing, and provides plenty of scientifically evidence-based suggestions to make the sport safer. Whoever authored the promotional materials would do well to remember a truly novel work in Damage. Y’know, given they published it themselves and it’s much more academic in its approach.
So much of this book comes across as older man shouting at clouds about the state of boxing today… because everything was definitely better in his heyday. Sure thing, pal. Don’t let a loose grasp (to be generous) of data analysis and philosophy get in the way, eh. There’s nothing wrong with not liking boxing anymore. Too much time in its orbit can turn anyone off. It’s a hard sport that sees participants navigate the ultimate occupational hazard, and it’s a horrible business, too. Let’s not, however, be like Silver and pretend that all was well in the good old days. It was equally faulty then. That is an undeniable fact. If there is a serious conversation about saving boxers lives, let’s look at everything, not just the bits that suit old men with their senses of superiority.
This book is well meaning, but it’s not any good. For such an important and sensitive subject, it lacks the skill, perspective, research, and knowledge to tackle it properly. It’s very idealist and the tone is overriding self-righteous arrogance. I don’t take any joy in saying it’s the worst book I’ve read about boxing, and I’ve read a lot.
Straight away, the suggestion that boxers nowadays have no desire for defence and favour pure aggression is lazy hyperbole. Come on, man. Floyd Mayweather, the highest paid boxer in history, hasn’t long retired and he happened to be one of the best defensive operators of all time. There are plenty of other examples, too. Shakur Stevenson, Oleksandr Usyk, Dmitry Bivol etc. - many of today’s leaders have great defences. It’s a necessity to succeed in any era. Later on in the book, Silver categorically (and literally) says that boxing skills have deteriorated in modern times and that blocking, ducking, parrying, slipping, side stepping, weaving and rolling are no longer taught. This is pure, senile fantasy. It’s insulting to the reader’s intelligence.
The introduction also moans that some boxers are fighting for world titles after 10 or so fights, while completely ignoring the context of amateur and professional codes being more similar than ever at the top level. It didn’t need to misrepresent these points to set out its stall. The claim that standing eight counts are part of the safety problem is also genuinely 100% wrong… because they don’t exist in professional boxing. Maybe he means mandatory eight counts, which are a completely different thing, but that blatant error did make me question the accuracy of other information that follows. Up to here, I’ve only covered the introduction. It gets worse.
There are so many inconsistent arguments that choose to focus on certain facts, while omitting others, to attempt to prove Silver right. In one chapter, he bemoans how removing head guards has led to more cuts in amateur boxing (despite the decision leading to less concussions). Two chapters later, he’s making the contradictory point that going bareknuckle would be better for concussions and brain injuries, even though nearly every BKB fight ends with horror-show cuts. One moment preventing cuts is important to Silver, and then it’s not. This inconsistent flip flopping, solely in order to prove himself right, is impossible to take seriously. It’s compounded when he then speaks to one solitary expert and cites a 60+ year old study… oh, I forgot to mention movie actor James Cagney is quoted to ‘strengthen’ Silver’s position. We’re reading Donald Trump levels of comprehension.
Silver’s romanticised view of the past is infuriatingly selective in which parts to celebrate and equally selective in which parts of more modern times to condemn. The chapter where he ‘analyses’ 14 fights where a fatality has occurred is awfully unprofessional. There is no criteria as to why he’s chosen this list, other than it proves his arguments.. a fact he accidentally admits. Why limit it to 14 and why choose those 14 from over 110+ deaths in the time period he’s chosen? Because the other cases may not support his arguments. I’m not sure he understands why this is blatant confirmation bias.
The book’s approach falls short of acceptable standards in many other ways. It doesn’t further explore or elaborate on legitimate points raised by others, such as the referee’s idea for officials not to register with sanctioning bodies. I suspect it’s because Silver only cares about his own ideas. He also doesn’t present both sides of arguments - only his own - and he doesn’t seem to have made any meaningful attempt to understand or contend with conflicting opinions. These counter-positions are barely mentioned or even referenced because Silver knows best, just take his word for it.
Another failing is that the book is so American centric. At one point, Silver claims the Celtic title is unknown, despite being a fully recognised stepping stone for one of world boxing’s biggest hotbeds and a key part of the UK scene’s meritocracy. It allows a boxer to prove themselves at a certain level before progressing (or not) further up the hierarchy having earned the right to face tougher opposition. That is the type of experience Silver consistently highlights as lacking in the sport at other parts of the book. That the context of John Cooney’s death is misrepresented like this is at best careless and at least disrespectful.
Boxing will never be safe. There is no touch rugby or five-a-side football (or flag football for Americans) version of the sport. It ultimately involves, whatever way you dress it up, punching someone’s head to shake their brain into involuntary submission. Throw in the complications of dehydration to make weight (which Silver addresses poorly), and the lethal risk is multiplied. We should, however, recognise that there is more care now than ever. Pre-fight medicals are better, awareness of CTE is higher, and the acute care at ringside with paramedics and ambulances has improved over the last 30 years. That is, however, not a reason to stop making more improvements. There is plenty of best practice but there are no universal standards, and that is the biggest problem.
There is constant misunderstanding of correlation vs causation throughout this book. There is also a false equivalence drawn that more bouts and experience = less death. Very few boxers get to 40+ bouts nowadays, whereas that was common in yesteryear. Experience is picked up with more time in the gym, longer training camps etc. Even novice pros will talk of ‘camps’ for four/six rounders, so it’s hardly like they are fast forwarded to title fights having not prepared for it in the gym. How Silver omits this fact when making his arguments feels like the type of cherrypick many matchmakers would be proud of. He obsesses about mismatches causing deaths but most mismatches end early and without serious injuries, whereas most deaths happen late into fights. When two boxers are so well-matched, they push each other past their physical limits and into the danger zone. If they were true mismatches, these fights wouldn’t last so long, but this reality is lost on Silver. It strikes me that he may have been around boxing for a long time, but it’s been a long time since he’s been in it.
I also take exception to the focus on recent deaths while skimming over deaths in previous eras. Every boxer who has lost a life in the ring could have benefitted from greater care, not just modern ones. Johnny Owen would still be alive today if the pre-fight checks that exist now were around in the 80s. Silver spends very little time assessing cases like this, but has hyper-focus on recent deaths as if it’s a modern phenomenon. And do only deaths caused by acute injuries count? What about the chronic conditions that develop in later life like ALS, CTE, Parkinson’s etc.? These were more prevalent in boxers of previous eras who died way before their time, but because it wasn’t directly after a fight Silver seems to skip over them. The fact is that plenty of fighters from yesteryear also paid too high a price. Silver gives six measly pages to CTE despite it leading to the deaths of far more boxers than those who die due to acute injuries.
I find it pretty odd the way publishers Hamiclar have positioned this book: “… for the first time proposes groundbreaking practical solutions that will mitigate the danger and save lives.” The only practical suggestion he really proposes are shorter fights. There’s very little substance to other ideas. Anyway, Hamiclar published Damage by Tris Dixon, who is richer in experience and proximity to boxing, and provides plenty of scientifically evidence-based suggestions to make the sport safer. Whoever authored the promotional materials would do well to remember a truly novel work in Damage. Y’know, given they published it themselves and it’s much more academic in its approach.
So much of this book comes across as older man shouting at clouds about the state of boxing today… because everything was definitely better in his heyday. Sure thing, pal. Don’t let a loose grasp (to be generous) of data analysis and philosophy get in the way, eh. There’s nothing wrong with not liking boxing anymore. Too much time in its orbit can turn anyone off. It’s a hard sport that sees participants navigate the ultimate occupational hazard, and it’s a horrible business, too. Let’s not, however, be like Silver and pretend that all was well in the good old days. It was equally faulty then. That is an undeniable fact. If there is a serious conversation about saving boxers lives, let’s look at everything, not just the bits that suit old men with their senses of superiority.
This book is well meaning, but it’s not any good. For such an important and sensitive subject, it lacks the skill, perspective, research, and knowledge to tackle it properly. It’s very idealist and the tone is overriding self-righteous arrogance. I don’t take any joy in saying it’s the worst book I’ve read about boxing, and I’ve read a lot.
October 7, 2025
Mike Silver is a man who eats, sleeps and breathes boxing. Former Inspector of the New York State Athletic Commission and lifelong fan, this is someone whose word on the sport means something. I was surprised with how thorough and direct this book was. For a sport as barbaric as boxing, Mike somehow finds a way to humanize the participants who the fans have cheered and jeered for so many years. Many of these rule changes I feel will definitely ensure the safety of these participants and may even lead to some increased longevity and more active careers in some fighters. I was surprised to learn about how scummy a lot of the Alphabet organizations could truly be and the effect this plays on mismatches that lead to fighter injury and death. This book is one of the perfect cases of “seeing how the sausage is made” and honestly, has me ready to see some sort of reform in the sport. Would definitely recommend this for lifelong fans of the sport or for someone more interested in how to preserve the warriors in a sport whose main goal is to concuss the opponent.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews