Fighting whit no headgear??

[stephenmc]

I just had my first fight over the weekend after being out of boxing for about 3 years, I never boxed without headgear prior to this weekend but the rules have changed a bit since i last fought, so this was the first fight without headgear for me, i found it fairly strange as you can most certainly feel the punches a bit more,but was also good as the headgear wasnt annoying, I won the fight whit a body shot (delighted :P) in the end, but did come away whit a small black eye. What do you people think about boxing in the amateurs without headgear??? Do you think its dangerous for amateur boxers?? more injures the likes of black eyes, concussions and so forth?? more of a chance of been KOd and you get the jist of it??

[#1Assassin]

you arent much more likely to get knocked out, punches to the chin do the same amount of damage but you do have less protection to the temple. same thing applies to concussions in general.

the reason you have headgear in the first place is that amateurs box much more frequently, including tournaments where you fight multiple times a week. as a result headgear is used to avoid cuts, i prefer boxing without headgear myself although im yet to compete without it. but it would really suck to work really hard for a big tournament, go to the finals and have to sit out because you caught a cut at the very end of the last fight. or have a fight stopped for that matter.

i havent boxed for 4 years myself and i havent really paid attention to how the no headgear thing is working out. thinking of making a comeback though so i guess i will find out for myself.

[2ofEverything]

Less jaw protection and less protection from cuts. But that doesn't bother me so no I think it's fine. Plus there are a load of articles that show headgear doesn't do much and I tend to agree. 1/4" to 1/2" of foam around your jaw line and forehead isn't going to do much.

I've sparred with headgear once or twice before (though the trainer doesn't allow it unless you're up against a total newbie) and the thing I noticed the most was the ear shots. Those really hurt without headgear.