The business model of topless boxing relies entirely on the age-old marketing adage: "sex sells." However, modern digital infrastructure has allowed promoters to supercharge this concept.

The philosopher Jack Anderson has argued that boxing as a whole sits in a precarious legal and ethical position, “extremely vulnerable to prosecution and might in fact already be illegal under English criminal law.” If mainstream boxing struggles for moral justification, topless boxing — with its explicit entanglement of violence and sexuality — stands on even shakier ground.

The 2002 Canadian film Punch — directed by Guy Bennett — directly tackled the subject. The film follows a sensitive father‑daughter relationship intertwined with a sleazy “cat‑fighting” video operation. Reviewers noted the uncomfortable combination: “Who knew that Canadian cinema was in such desperate need of a movie about topless female boxing?” One IMDb user wrote: “Despite the topless female boxing (which was tough to watch, not sexy — sorry!), this might be more of a women’s film than a boy flick.” The film intentionally blurs the line between exploitation and art, forcing viewers to question their own reactions.