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HEADGUARD DEBATE

Why did AIBA remove the headguard from men boxers?

In the past several years, AIBA made Olympic-style boxing more like professional boxing with key rule changes, including: remove men’s headguard, increase round length to 3 minutes, use the pro scoring system, and allow boxers to hold.  AIBA also established professional boxing leagues for men boxers: World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB).

Have there been negative health effects since the removal of men's headguard?

  1. Comparison of Injury Statistics: London (with headguard was 9%)  and Rio (without headguard was 30%)   Listed injuries in Rio include concussion, cuts, and broken jaw.

  2. Rules: Cuts and advent of AIBA Cutman.  Since removal of headguard for men, the increase in cuts and other injuries led AIBA to amended rules, including:

    1. creation of AIBA cutman official, Competition Rule 15

    2. additional coach in corner for cutman responsibilities, Technical Rule 16

    3. Winner on Points if bout stopped due to cut by clash of heads, Tech Rule 4

    4. use of cut prevention material, Competition Rules, Appendix G

    5. use of medications to stop bleeding from a cut, Technical Rule 16.2

    6. head butt foul protections, Technical Rule 8.3 & 8.4

    7. failed medical exam from Med-DQ to Win by Walkover, Tech Rule 4.10 

  3. Cut Case study 2013 Men’s World Championships, Patty Barnes

  4. Cut Case study 2014 Commonwealth Games, Daniel Lewis   and here

  5. Cut Case study 2015 Men’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials

  6. Concussion and Cut Case study 2015 European Games, +91kg division  Only two boxers on podium because the others were too injured to appear.

  7. Concussion Case study 2015 PanAmerican Games, Samir El-Mais

  8. Concussion Case study 2015 Men’s World Championships 

  9. Cuts case study 2016 Rio Olympic Games   and here

  10. Concussion Case study 2017 Men’s World Championships, David Ayiti

Does removal of headguard make men's boxing more marketable and popular?

World Series of Boxing, the first AIBA professional boxing endeavor for men, began in 2010.  Over its eight seasons, it failed to gain traction in the world market.  AIBA established AIBA Professional Boxing (APB) for men recently.  It has not yet proven to be profitable.  AIBA offered entry into the Olympic Games for established professional male boxers, with three entering the Rio Olympic Games.

Doctors on record for headguard removal?

Charles Butler, M.D., retired cardiologist, former head of AIBA Medical Commission, current honorary AIBA Medical Commission member
    
Mike Loosemore, M.D., AIBA Medical Commission member
 

Doctors on record against headguard removal?

Robert Cantu, M.D., neurologist, author of Boxing and Medicine and Concussions and our Kids
 
Barry Jordan, M.D., neurologist specializing in sports neurology and traumatic brain injury     
  
Edward Benzel, M.D., neurologist

Association of Ringside Physicians, position statement
“There are fewer head and facial injuries when using headgear in amateur boxing. Amateur boxing is a relatively safe sport, and eliminating headgear will make amateur boxing less safe. The ARP supports the continued use of headgear in amateur boxing, as well as efforts to improve the effectiveness of the headgear.”

Did the International Olympic Committee sponsor any studies on headguard?

Yes, the IOC sponsored research that was published in the summer of 2015 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.  Authors Macintosh & Patton concluded: “In totality, the data support the opinion that current AIBA headguards can play an important role in reducing the risk of concussion and superficial injury in boxing competition and training.”

Is there published research on headguard safety?

List of published research on headguards and athlete safety

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