Boxing is known as one of the more dangerous and violent sports, and head injuries are very common. With constant blows to the body, but mostly to the head and face, there is always a high risk of head injuries, such as concussions.
Both male and female boxers wear gear specially designed for this sport to protect themselves. But why do women boxers wear helmets when being in major competitions?
And why men don’t? Let’s find out.
Why do Women Wear Head Guards but Men don’t in Olympic Boxing?
Do boxers wear headgear? Before the Olympics in Rio 2016, all boxers, men and women, were required to wear helmets under AIBA (International Boxing Association) guidelines. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to use headgear to protect amateur boxers from lacerations and serious headbutts.
However, they decided to only remove the helmets for male fighters during the World Championships and the 2016 Olympic sports boxing matches. In 2013, Charles Butler, chairman of the AIBA medical commission, stated that he collected data on approximately 15,000 boxers and concluded that they were more likely to suffer concussions while wearing helmets.
The best Female boxers, on the other hand, are still required to wear Olympic boxing headgear due to this decision and to ensure maximum security because of a lack of data on head injuries in the women’s game.
Are Women Boxers at Greater Risk of a Concussion?
Because of the physiological differences between men and women, women’s boxing may be safer. Female athletes have more neck flexibility than male athletes, less shoulder and neck musculature, and less upper body strength. In boxing, where only arm blows are permitted, women suffer from injury and concussion less frequently than men.
Though another study on the cognitive function of concussion patients found that a blow can cause a larger rebound and shake the brain more violently because women have slimmer necks, in addition, their reaction time was slower than that of men.
Benefits of headgear
- It will keep you safe from cuts, bruises, and swelling.
- Even if only one fighter wears headgear, you will be protected from painful headbutts.
- It protects you from breaking your nose, jawbones, and orbital bones.
- It provides you with a sense of security.
- It assists you in maintaining your good looks outside of the ring.
- The padding protects your head when knocked down on the canvas.
- The punches from the opponent don’t feel as powerful.
Disadvantages with headgear
- The headgear can be used as a target to hit more people.
- It reduces your vision, making getting hit by angled punches more difficult because of a blocked peripheral view.
- It will reduce the likelihood of external injury, but there is no guarantee of protection for brain injuries.
- Your movements are slightly slower when wearing a heavier headgear
- A good quality headgear can be expensive, so it’s extra money besides spending on other boxing gear
Conclusion
Concussions are quite common in boxing because of the nature of the sport. However, there are some issues with the boxing headgear rules, which require women’s boxers to wear helmets for their safety.
And there will always be questions like why do women boxers wear helmets in the amateur or experienced category, and do they believe women can’t fight without them?
At the end of the day, it’s all about the athletes’ security.
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FAQ:
What types of headguards are available?
Headguards are classified into three types: standard open-face guards, Mexican-style guards, and bar guards with more facial protection. Open face guards provide adequate protection and good vision, Mexican-style guards provide facial protection in the cheek, forehead, and temple areas, and bar guards (face savers) provide the most protection against facial bruises and significantly reduce vision.
Should you wear headgear for training?
You should not use your full power in training, so focus on improving your technique rather than using your strength with the intent to hit your partner hard. Given that the main target in this sport is the body and the head wearing headgear may be an excellent option to avoid cuts, injuries, and a possible concussion.
What protection do female boxers wear?
Why do women boxers wear helmets? Is it the only protective equipment required? No! In addition to a helmet, female boxers should wear breast and groyne protectors and mouthpieces.