Total Extreme Fighting belongs in eternal Hall of Shame reserved for blood sports

The death of Joao Carvalho in the Total Extreme Fighting event in Dublin is a shocking reminder of how vile this so-called sport is.

Every week we read reports of youngsters in street brawling that is almost a carbon copy of what passes for entertainment in these “championships”, including descriptions of teenagers or men in their 20s being repeatedly kicked in the head, while late night drinkers urge on the combatants.

When the perpetrators of such assaults come before the courts they are referred to as “scumbags”, and “thugs” by straight talking tabloid journalists.

Yet their “sporting” counterparts who rain punches and kicks on each other in a cage are hailed as heroes, and their brawling receives major corporate sponsorship.

I have been campaigning against hare coursing for years and highlighting the cruelty of dog fighting and badger baiting.

I would put Total Extreme Fighting on the same level as these activities.

It is an anachronism that harks back to the days of the Roman Coliseum, where a sadistic mob cheered and roared as human beings fought each other to the point of extreme injury or death.

It is demeaning, a disgrace to humanity that should be outlawed immediately. It belongs in the eternal Hall of Shame reserved for blood sports.

John Fitzgerald

Lower Coyne Street

Callan

Co Kilkenny