I was saddened to read that South Korean boxer Choi Yo Sam died from his injuries even though he had won the championship. I believe that some, if not many, have been seriously injured or even died from such a vigorous, tough and violent sport.

I met one of my sporting idols, boxer Muhammad Ali, in 2005 when he was in Singapore to lend support for New York's bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games.

When I met the boxing legend, I was happy, and yet, sad. During the peak of his boxing career, Ali's punches were said to be so powerful that it could kill an adult bull with a single blow to its head.

Yet, Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, had to he had to be assisted to walk during his visit here. His condition, some said, were brought on by injuries suffered in his boxing career.

I believe strongly that even in such a so-called dangerous and violent sport, no one should be killed.

An important lesson can be learnt from the movie Rocky which starred Sylvester Stallone. He could have won the boxing match, but chose to lose to spare his opponent's life.

There have been other 'fights' in the sporting world - when Zinedine Zidane headbutted a fellow footballer in the last World Cup, and more recently in Singapore, when Noh Alam Shah kneed Daniel Bennett in the chest and kicked him on the back of his head even as he lay on the field.

Perhaps, Alam Shah is better suited to be a a muay thai boxer. After all, muay thai is the only sport, I believe, which allows a boxer to use his hands, legs and feet to attack and his opponents to score points.

My comment is not to show disrespect for muay thai or even to Alam Shah, but I just want to emphasise that no sports should ever come to life and death.

Ace Kindred Cheong Shiang Hoow