Table 5 Selected respondent comments

1

“AIBA is not being genuine here. Their data is a load of nonsense. This change was and effort to make boxing more exciting for the fans. Nothing to do with safety. Ridiculous!!!”

2

“(At the) very least it should be a choice. But wearing headgear allows individuals to decide whether this sport is for them. Otherwise many will not endeavour to join clubs and try it out. This decision could be the death of the sport in Canada.”

3

“Too many headbutts and injuries for amateur boxing. Every fight i go to there is at least one stoppage due to headbutt. Our athletes aren’t ready for it yet. Also, I don’t think fans would like to see females and kids getting hit without headgear so having them fight without it would not raise the numbers of participants in the sport. Please keep headgears for everyone!”

4

“It should be up to the boxers and the coach whether they want to wear headgear. However headgear should be mandatory until fighters have developed defensive prowess.”

5

“My son is a boxer with 15 fights. He’s only 18 but he’s been boxing since he was 10 years old. He’s already had 3 fights without headgear. Already received 2 headbutts, cuts and ecchymosis. He has great boxing talent, but due to this rule he’s retired from the sport.”^a

6

“Anything that restricts peripheral vision is dangerous.”

7

“All research indicates wearing headguard is safer. Also reduces cuts. Anyone complaining about vision isn’t wearing the correct size, or isn’t adjusting it correctly.”

8

“Headgear for cuts only, so ‘vas’ up the face and gloves up, diving in for that hook to the body. IMO headgear increases concussive risk (larger target area, peripheral vision interference, merely transfers concussive force through 3/4 inches of dense foam).”

9

“AIBA should not be allowed to dictate the use of head guards for competitions outside International competitions (multi) that they have jurisdiction over. Protection of boxers is paramountly important. Canada has been a leader in this field and were the main driving force behind bringing competitive head guards to the world of boxing. We all know that this is a campaign by AIBA to professionalize our amateur sport in an effort to control the sport of boxing, both amateur and professional world wise. Of course money is at the root of this move.”

10

“Why risk injury to these young athletes? Should we not do everything we can to lessen the chance of injury? I think it is irresponsible to put our boxers in the ring without all the protection we can.”

11

“When the boxers’ safety is traded for money.”

12

“If this rule is implemented it will be next to impossible to get kids to register in our sport as it will scare parents away. I would not allow my own child to box without headgear. It will be the death of amateur boxing.”

13

“I believe that if the AIBA does away with headgear for all boxers at all ages it will kill the sport. I am a level 3 coach with 30 plus years of experience which includes over 16 years of competition, I also have two of my children involved in boxing and if the NO Headgear rule passed I would take my children out of the sport. I believe so would a lot of other parents.”

14

“With concussion information out and law suits in hockey and football, amateur boxing has been spared. BUT, box without headgear and law suits and injury will occur!!!! Second concussion syndrome in boxers under 19 years old means no physician in North America will be covered by insurance if anything happens and the second concussion syndrome occurs (death of the athlete). If you want to go underground, then do this. Lawyers will have a heyday with this!!! You will loose the few physicians you have.”