Which is worse?

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I was watching a program called "Taboo" tonight, it featured a legal and widely accepted tradition in Thailand of putting young children into muay thai fights, where adults place bets on the fighters. I was watching a scene where one six year old girl took a hard punch to the face (protected by boxing gloves), and naturally I cringed. What is wrong with the parents allowing their kids to participate? As the program went on, the parents were interviewed. Muay Thai is a highly profitable sport in Thailand, and kids start training very early. The parents justified by saying that their kids want to participate, and they are committed and dedicated. In a sense, they feel they are just facilitating their children's dreams and goals. You know what that reminds me of? Those stage moms from beauty pageants. You hear the same justifications, that their little girls want to spend all their time dancing, primping, dieting, fake smiling, etc. While you could make the argument that the children in beauty pageants aren't in physical danger, what about the emotional damage from being judged on makeup and big hair rather than actual value? I don't want to rant (though I think I just did!), but really which is worse for you? Potential physical danger, or almost certain emotional damage?