No More Headgear or Singlets?

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 29 Jul 2007, 23:52

Hal - they could make headgear optional. However, it is those guys with hard heads that come in low that would be the ones electing to go without. I wouldn't want my boxers getting headbutted all the time. Even with headgear, I saw one guy get his nose broken from a headbutt. The top of the guy's head (where there isn't any padding) hit the other guy in the bridge of the nose. Without headgear, those scenarios would be happening a lot more often.

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 30 Jul 2007, 17:14

Dennis, If it were optional, I would still us it except right at the end of a boxers amateur carreer when he was getting ready fro the pros, just to experience it once or twice before having to experience it for the first time in his first pro fight.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 31 Jul 2007, 09:16

Good man Hal. If it were optional, I don't know why anyone wouldn't wear one unless they want to use their head as a weapon.

Boxing Fanatic · Post by **Boxing Fanatic** » 31 Jul 2007, 19:48

I am a boxer, I think that it would weed the true boxers from the want a bees... However the tournements would have less compitition because people would quite. But i would not wear a headgear if it were optional.

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 01 Aug 2007, 22:16

Boxing fanatic, I have to disagree with you on weeding out the "true boxers" from the "wanna bees". There are some great boxer with a heart like a lion and great skills that believe, once they make thier mark in the amateurs, they would like a long prosperous carreer in the pros. The fact that you choose head protection as an amateur wouldn't make you a wanna be, just someone that was making an intellegent buissness descision for your future. , Sometime boxing takes brains as well as kidneys. livers and spleens. There is plenty of time to test your metel in the pro game. Also, I know you have seen quite a few guys in MMA that have no skills. They truly are wanna bees, yet they don't wear head gear. I just don't think wearing a head grear is a good indicator of weather a person is a true boxer.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 02 Aug 2007, 11:32

squarering wrote:Boxing fanatic, I have to disagree with you on weeding out the "true boxers" from the "wanna bees". There are some great boxer with a heart like a lion and great skills that believe, once they make thier mark in the amateurs, they would like a long prosperous carreer in the pros. The fact that you choose head protection as an amateur wouldn't make you a wanna be, just someone that was making an intellegent buissness descision for your future. , Sometime boxing takes brains as well as kidneys. livers and spleens. There is plenty of time to test your metel in the pro game. Also, I know you have seen quite a few guys in MMA that have no skills. They truly are wanna bees, yet they don't wear head gear. I just don't think wearing a head grear is a good indicator of weather a person is a true boxer.

Well said Hal!!! I spar a lot and I ALWAYS WEAR A HEADGEAR. I'm trying to protect myself as much as possible and not get unnecessary cuts and bruises too.

benvolio · Post by **benvolio** » 09 Aug 2007, 05:03

I would strongly suggest to keep the headgears as they protect from cuts and diminish the crash on the floor in a knock down. These are significant advantages. In the question of singlets/shirts I definetely support shirtlessness of male fighters which is the traditional dress code in boxing emphasizing the physicality of boxing and is much more attractive than "shirts-boxing" since people see the muscles working. I'm sure there would be more spactators at the ringside and in TV. The argument of differentiating the teams by different vests is not too strong. They can put their team logos and identification numbers on the trunks. Vests don't protect against anything. I never heard of rope burn. I still like to see the old movies of the amateur times of young Ali and before when all fighters were stripped to the waist (in those days even without headgear).

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Aug 2007, 09:07

I definetely support shirtlessness of male fighters which is the traditional dress code in boxing emphasizing the physicality of boxing and is much more attractive than "shirts-boxing" since people see the muscles working.

This must be an appeal to voyuers or women who don't care about boxing. Maybe I'm different, but I have never watched a boxing match, or pro fight, for the express reason of watching "muscles working." I've always watched the skill and technique and the ability of the boxers. Just because you can see their bare chests and muscles doesn't make them skilled at the sport.

I also hear there's a rumor to get rid of AIBA totally. And replace with who or what????????????????

walshb · Post by **walshb** » 09 Aug 2007, 09:18

It wouldn't bother me personally, but I can see what people mean.
The absence of the singlets would to a lot of people heighten their interest or awareness....

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Aug 2007, 09:27

Why would the absence of singlets heighten interest???? Are we watching the sport of boxing or someone's abs rippling? Sheesh!!!

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Aug 2007, 13:01

I still think it could make a few guys train harder out of shear embarrassment. Then again for those who don't care about how they look, it could be really disgusting. I've seen a few pro bouts where I wished they were wearing shirts.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Aug 2007, 14:23

I still think it could make a few guys train harder out of shear embarrassment.

If the pro blubberweights don't care about their bulging fat, why should the amateur boxers? Hmmmmm?????

Then again for those who don't care about how they look, it could be really disgusting.

I've seen a few "disgusting" pros.

I've seen a few pro bouts where I wished they were wearing shirts.

Wonder of Havoc makes them that big - or do we have to resurrect Omar the Tent Maker!!!

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Aug 2007, 18:14

boxmel wrote:Wonder of Havoc makes them that big - or do we have to resurrect Omar the Tent Maker!!!

Good one Mel.

The_Real_Deal · Post by **The_Real_Deal** » 09 Aug 2007, 18:21

Dennis wrote:I still think it could make a few guys train harder out of shear embarrassment. Then again for those who don't care about how they look, it could be really disgusting. I've seen a few pro bouts where I wished they were wearing shirts.

james toney never really paid any attention to what people thought about his looks so I dont think a kid will either, besides being lean is really genetics there are some guys in tremendous shape that dont look like it do not allow looks to fool you.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Aug 2007, 18:43

There are definitely some fat guys who are in shape and a lot of well built guys who aren't.

This is off topic, but I watched the replay of Holyfield v. Qawi II last night. Boy was Holyfield thin looking compared to now. His face was narrower too. He was well built, but he still had a neck back then. Now his shoulders just sort of connect to his head - LOL.

I forgot how nice of a jab he had when he was cruiser champ. He didn't always use it as he sometimes liked to slug instead of box. He is a warrior, that is for sure.

benvolio · Post by **benvolio** » 13 Aug 2007, 08:55

Headgears in my opinion clearly differentiate pros and amateurs by apparel. You don't need shirts. You have headgears, gloves and trunks for different colours to differentiate the corners. Taking off the jerseys would be only a return to the state before 1988 in the US. Look at the old clips of young Cassius Clay as amateur! In kickboxing which came up in the seventies amateurs don't wear shirts and nobody takes them for pros! I think there is no logic casuality concerning shirts for pros and amateurs, especially no reason of protection as with headgears. So take the shirts off as is the traditional apparel for boxing for more than 100 years.

mich3102 · Post by **mich3102** » 15 Aug 2007, 10:06

I can see maybe the national level doing away with headgear. However, can you imagine two novices going at it without headgear. They would class heads constantly.

Also, the problem is not the headgear. It is the damn scoring system. Somone burn the clickers.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 15 Aug 2007, 11:52

If AIBA does away with the headgear, and USAB goes along, it will not be worn at any level - JO, novice or open. However, USAB can have rules that are more stringent than AIBA's.....

And what would you propose to use in place of the clickers? Please remember that people push the computer scoring buttons and the clicker buttons. You definitely don't want to go back to the manual scoring system - no accountability.

emile · Post by **emile** » 30 Aug 2007, 10:47

I thought this was an interesting article from Scotland, with some ideas about headgear and scoring that I hadn't read. The doctor behind the move believes that these changes would increase the amount of body punching and therefore have less effects to the head. I'm not sure I believe his logic, but I thought that this quote from former top Scottish amateur Kenny Anderson was interesting.

"When a headguard becomes soggy with sweat - a common occurrence during a hard bout - they are heavy, reduce neck and head mobility and they become so soft with moisture that punch resistance protection is zero.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport ... 1378702007

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 30 Aug 2007, 12:53

I really don't think going for the head will stop - after all, that's how you knock someone out.

All the doctors I have spoken with are totally against doing away with the headgear. There is proven scientific data that use of the headgear has diminished the incidents of damage to the brain, as well as preventing cuts, punctured eardrums and cauliflower ears. Rumor has it that this legislation will NOT pass at the AIBA Congress in Chicago.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 30 Aug 2007, 18:04

I can tell you that I have seen many wrestlers and a few boxers with cauliflower ear and for that reason alone I would recommend headgear if given the option. Headbutts causing cuts is another big reason. I don't know if I agree with Anderson's statement. I have found that a lot of headgears do not get softer, but harder when wet. Althought it probably does reduce the impact absorption abilities of the headgear.

ringrat4life · Post by **ringrat4life** » 02 Sep 2007, 23:19

Well around 1977-78 we broke away from AAU and became USA/ABF. The rules changed and we had to start wearing tank tops and head gear. When you turned open at 16 years old, head gear was optional. Internationally(17 years and up) you couldn't wear headgear at all, until 1984 and then it was optional.

I personally think you would be a fool to not wear it. I was one of those boxers who hated it when we were forced to wear it. Tank tops who cares the only thing they really do is help the officials to know what corner you are from... I had 325 amateur bouts and 26 pro fights. We don't need to go backwards...So I feel we need to keep the head gear if we truly care about the kids.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 04 Sep 2007, 00:29

Great post Mario.

No More Headgear or Singlets?

Headgear and singlets in amateur boxing

No More Headgear or Singlets?