Headgear confusion

SOUTH African National Amateur Boxing Organisation president Andile Mofu says the International Boxing Association (Aiba's) decision to remove headgear in elite men's bouts is spot-on. But Boxing SA board member Peter Ngatane - a medical doctor - says Aiba is confused.

Speaking at the organisation's congress in South Korea, Aiba president Ching-Kuo Wu said the decision was based on medical statistics suggesting the protective padding can cause more damage to a boxer's head and contribute to brain damage.

Said Wu: "The decision to remove protective head guards in men's amateur boxing has made the sport safer by reducing concussions and forcing fighters to protect their heads more."

He also said women's boxing could one day follow suit .

"The conclusion was that concussions dropped to almost zero without the head guards."

Some felt that wearing headgear made everything safe, so why were there more concussions? He reasoned that the problem was that it led to boxers not thinking to protect their heads.

Wu said that the overwhelming reaction from the amateur boxing community had been positive and that safety was Aiba's paramount concern.

Mofu, who attended the governing body's congress in South Korea, said: "We have also removed head guards from the ages 19 to 40. Their defence has improved far better than when they were using head guards.

"I don't want to talk about the medical part because I'm no expert. We use head guards in sparring because you do not want to sustain cuts while preparing for a fight."

But Ngatane disagreed with Aiba's decision: "I think Aiba is confused. Head guards have their own protective measures. Amateurs need to have some form of protection. Head guards that were used before were made so badly that boxers could not see punches coming. The ones that are used now are open around the eyes. My recommendation is we continue using them here at home."