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Safety

Some people mistakenly perceive amateur boxing as a 'dangerous sport', Medical research shows a completely different story.  Lets look at the answers to the currently asked questions about amateur boxing and its safety measures.

How does amateur boxing safety rank with other contact sports?

Amateur boxing ranks as the safest amongst all contact sports (such as football and rugby) and amongst other events such as equestrian, motor cycle racing and mountaineering.  In fact amateur boxing rates as the (75th) least dangerous sport out of 100 in the ROSPA Table.

Doesn't boxing rank as the sport with the most injuries?

No, according to Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the National Safety Council, who report amateur boxing as having the lower number of injuries when compared to other sport such as hockey, soccer, gymnastics and roller blading.

What is the ABA of England doing to protect amateur boxers?

Amateur boxing goes to great lengths to protect its athletes.  Amateur boxers must wear a mouth guard at all times, wear protective hand bandages, 'cup' protectors, force absorbent head gear and a shirt to absorb sweat.  Women boxers are also required to wear breast protectors.

Amateur boxing is also controlled through a point scoring system where a measurement of more than 15 points difference between athletes occurs an immediate stoppage will take place before the 3rd round for junior and women participants, for Senior athletes where a (20) point difference occurs the bout will be stopped before the 4th round.  Amateur boxing gloves are designed and tested to absorb not transmit shock under recognised safety guidelines from the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) Safety Commission.  Amateur boxing referees exercise more control by using (8) counts and evaluating the boxers throughout a bout and can dispense counts at anytime (unlike professional boxing).

In addition to these stringent safety factors, a pre and post bouts medicals are required for all amateur boxers each and every time.