They have a poll on ABA Boxing about headgear. I don't like the question though because it ask for both sparring and competition. Even if they did away with them in competition, I would want my boxers to use them in sparring.
Here are the current results:
Would you like to see the removal of headguards in amateur boxing for both sparring and competition?
yes 290 (47.93%)
no 315 (52.07%)
Obviously the 290 people who said no don't have a problem with insurance. I can almost guarantee that USA Boxing would be out of an insurance carrier if headgear were no longer required.
Mel the 290 said Yes. If the rules didn't require it, I'm hopefule the insurance carriers wouldn't object. They will object if someone isn't using it when the rules require it.
It's a loaded question. There are probably a lot more that would have voted yes, if the question did not say, "and sparring". That's ridicules, even all pros spar with head gear. Dumbly worded.
The proposal didn't say, but if it happened it would be for competition. It may also be something that AIBA changes, but USA Boxing could keep it for US competitions and just do without them in international competitions. In the international competitions, the 165, 178, 201 & 201+ class boxers use 10 oz. gloves while in the US competitions they use 12 oz. gloves.
The exact wording, as presented in the reform recommendation, is as follows:
b. Recommendation on Head guard
Headgear should be put on after entering the ring
Removal of Head guard should be considered after further scientific studies in terms of the safety of the boxers is conducted - PENDING
I hope that "further scientific studies" determine that our sport is safer with the use of headgear than without.
Headgear being put on after entering the ring is so the fans can see the boxers' faces better. The problem is that it slows down the action as it sometimes wastes a couple of minutes when a corner has problems getting it on their boxer.
Headgear being put on after entering the ring is so the fans can see the boxers' faces better. The problem is that it slows down the action as it sometimes wastes a couple of minutes when a corner has problems getting it on their boxer.
Yeah - I remember when this was first implemented - and then tossed out. As Dennis says, it took too much time at the beginning of the bout. Wonder why they are thinking about it - again......
BTW, the IOC released the on-hold funding to AIBA yesterday. I honestly don't know what AIBA has done that is any different - except the spectators can now see the scoring.
