At what age can children start boxing?

Boxing has been deemed an unsafe sport for children of any age by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which cites the danger of repeated and deliberate blows to the head. A child's brain is still developing and thus is more susceptible to damage from concussions.

The mental and physical training boxers undergo can offer many benefits to children, but actual sparring, even with protective gear such as head guards, creates a serious risk of injuries that can lead to complications later in life. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease which can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's, has been linked with the sport.