Why are beards banned in boxing?

[Wales]

Just watching Calzaghe Lacy story and FW says he insisted Lacy shave his beard pre-fight, on this occassion it was psychological but its true that "proper" beards are banned. Ive read a few alleged reasons ranging from

It can cushion the blow
Open cuts
Other fighter cant see your chin
Can get in mouth and eyes
Beards attract bears

Anyone know the factual reason? It'd have to be one hell of a close contest for the difference to be the beard!

[davie]

Just watching Calzaghe Lacy story and FW says he insisted Lacy shave his beard pre-fight, on this occassion it was psychological but its true that "proper" beards are banned. Ive read a few alleged reasons ranging from

It can cushion the blow
Open cuts
Other fighter cant see your chin
Can get in mouth and eyes
Beards attract bears

Anyone know the factual reason? It'd have to be one hell of a close contest for the difference to be the beard!

I should imagine it would cushion a shot to the chin, to an extent, if the beard was large enough

[Wales]

You may be right, but im not sure about that, how big a beard would you need to cushion a shot to the chin from a pro boxer?

[Taansend]

Same reason they can't wear skinny jeans into the ring. It's because Hipsters are fornicating annoying.

[jaymitch81]

Yes it's because of it being able to cushion a shot.

I remember Danny williams once refusing to get rid of his before a fight, can't remember who against but in the end he trimmed it.

[Terminator666]

I always thought it was because if a fighter gets cut , then having a beard rubbing into the cut wouldn't Be too clever

[Rexob]

Broner had one in his last fight?

[Boxerbeetle]

I always thought it was because if a fighter gets cut , then having a beard rubbing into the cut wouldn't Be too clever

That's what I thought too.

[Boxerbeetle]

Yes it's because of it being able to cushion a shot.

I remember Danny williams once refusing to get rid of his before a fight, can't remember who against but in the end he trimmed it.

Yeah I remember that, Danny had a huge beard at the time - may have been the Chisora fight?

[Finn]

I thought it was for hygiene and not being able to target the chin properly.

[cold187]

a beard offer no cushion its bloody weightless
and the long beard hangs off the chin so thet werent provide any cushion whatsoever

i think it maybe due to cuts that are open can irritate it more etc

[Coco]

It def used to be a proper rule in the ams, I remember being asked to shave just before a fight, I was only a kid, it was proper bum fluff!
I think the rule was their but only enforced sporadically, I never realized there was such a thing in the pro's there are lots of examples of fighters with beards

[palooka]

You may be right, but im not sure about that, how big a beard would you need to cushion a shot to the chin from a pro boxer?

As big as a hay bale?

[leejonesjnr]

Beards aren't banned. Lots of boxers have beards.

[bigjack]

I thought it was for hygiene and not being able to target the chin properly.

That's what i thought,rough beards rubbed into a cut could probably worsen it,if it did cushion a blow in anyway then surely all fighters would have hipster style face fungus lol

[stevedoc]

I was told that it was hygiene and in a clinch that a beard could get in the other guys face and eyes ,I think it goes back to real early days without baths ect

[palooka]

I was told that it was hygiene and in a clinch that a beard could get in the other guys face and eyes ,I think it goes back to real early days without baths ect

Scottish boxers, then?

[stevedoc]

I was told that it was hygiene and in a clinch that a beard could get in the other guys face and eyes ,I think it goes back to real early days without baths ect

Scottish boxers, then?

Or Irish

[arlovski]

i was sent out of the ring before an amateur boxing bout to go and buy a razor and shave my naff goatee off, or i wouldn't be allowed to fight DD

Nipped off to the local Asda, came back fresh faced and boxed later in the night, won but got dropped in the process, would never have happened if i had my David Brent-esque facial hair as protection

[handsofstone]

i was sent out of the ring before an amateur boxing bout to go and buy a razor and shave my naff goatee off, or i wouldn't be allowed to fight DD

Nipped off to the local Asda, came back fresh faced and boxed later in the night, won but got dropped in the process, would never have happened if i had my David Brent-esque facial hair as protection

Were you fighting Anthea Turner's husband Grant Bovey?

[jamiedavies02]

I always thought it was the fighters jaw line was clearly visible so the referee/ doctor could detect a broken jaw

[REEVE]

I was told it was to protect the other fighters eyes - don't no if this is true

[Boxerbeetle]

Has a beard ever been a factor in a boxer weighing in slightly over the limit? :geek2:

[davie]

You may be right, but im not sure about that, how big a beard would you need to cushion a shot to the chin from a pro boxer?

No beard will complete negate the force of a full blown shot from a pro

But any cushioning will provide a minor barrier and take a percentage out of it. A heavy beard might take 5% out of a shot and that could be the difference between a knockdown or not.

Fine margins and all that

[handsofstone]

Some of those female boxers have beards i swear