Young left and right leaders call for legalising professional boxing

Illugi Gunnarsson, a former chair of Young Left-Greens, and Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson, chair of the Association of Young Independents, both want professional boxing legalised in Iceland, mbl.is reports. In an interview on the outlet’s Spursmál programme, they criticised the ban and said it was time to change the law.

Júlíus said the Association of Young Independents had been in close contact with boxer Emin Kadri Eminsson after mbl.is interviewed him in September. He argued that Icelandic boxers were treated unfairly because they could not compete professionally as athletes in neighbouring countries could.

He noted that professional boxing is permitted in Sweden and Norway, and also cited Cuba and Iran. He said Iceland was placing itself in undesirable company by maintaining the ban.

Júlíus said attempts to lift the ban had repeatedly been made in parliament and that a sixth bill from the Independence Party on the issue was now under consideration. He also called on Inga Sæland to reconsider her opposition to legalising professional boxing. He said he had asked her about her position after taking his seat in parliament in September, and that she had expressed strong opposition.

Illugi said Young Left-Greens had no official position on the issue, but that he personally supported lifting the ban. He described boxing as a sport and questioned why people should be prevented from practising it.

He added that safety concerns could support legalisation, arguing that the sport would be safer with a proper regulatory framework. Illugi said it was unreasonable that elite athletes could not compete in professional boxing in Iceland.