CLAIM: 

In boxing films, swelling around a fighter’s eye is often shown being treated by slicing it open — is this a legitimate medical practice?

FACT:

False. Medical experts confirm that cutting open a swelling is unsafe, never used in professional sports, and can lead to serious complications like infection.

The punches are landing in rapid succession. Both the boxers have their eyes swollen. They are barely able to see. The bell suddenly rings and the round is over. The coaches pull the boxers to their corners and use a knife to slice open the swelling, while the fighters grit their teeth. The boxers are back up on their feet and ready to go again.

This scene is a staple in many Bollywood boxing films, one of them Brothers, starring Akshay Kumar and Siddarth Malhotra. But is slicing of the boxers’ swelling a medically acceptable practice? Let us find out.

‘Cutting swellings open is unsafe’

First Check spoke with two prominent doctors practicing in Delhi, to understand what actually happens when a boxer is wounded and how such wounds are treated.

Dr Ravinder Pandey, a physician and assistant professor at the department of anesthesia and critical care at AIIMS, New Delhi termed the practice as unsafe. 

“Swelling occurs due to trauma, causing blood and fluids to accumulate in the affected area,” he explained. “The best way to manage it is by applying cold pressure to constrict blood vessels and reduce fluid buildup. Cutting into the tissue introduces risks of infection and worsens the injury.”

Dr Sushma Sagar, a trauma care specialist at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center at AIIMS New Delhi stressed the importance of post-injury care: “Swelling should be monitored continuously even after the immediate care.” 

She added that continued icing for 15-20 minutes at intervals over the following few days helps recovery. “If symptoms like blurred vision or severe pain persist, immediate medical attention should be sought out,” she said.

A report on the World Boxing Association website called for management of the swelling using cold compresses, and direct pressure. These methods are designed to minimize damage and allow boxers to continue trading blows. 

“The ringside treatment is to apply ice and external pressure on the swelling,” the report recommended. “This will prevent any further bleeding into the tissues by constricting the blood vessels. The healing process of this injury takes about 5 to 7 days.” 

In professional boxing, cutmen play a crucial role in managing facial injuries during bouts. Their work involves using specialized tools like enswell (a metal device kept cold) to apply pressure and reduce swelling quickly between rounds.

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