Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Are you allowed to watch professional boxing on TV in Islam, or is it impermissible (haram)?

Answer: In the name of Allah, Most Merciful.

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.

The ruling of watching boxing would be derived from the ruling of boxing itself.

Boxing is Islamically problematic—as professionally practiced—because it involves striking the face, which is firmly prohibited in Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade hitting even animals on the face [Khadimi/Birgivi, al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya].

And Allah knows best.

Faraz Rabbani