Why no headgear in Olympic boxing? This thing, I just don’t get it. I watched it on that TV, and I said, why don’t they wear those helmets anymore?
No Headgear in Olympic Boxing?
They used to wear them, right? Like, those big things on their heads, like those motorcycle fellas. Now, they just go in there with nothing. Just their own heads. My grandson, he’s a good boy, he told me it’s been like this since 2016, since that Rio thing. I say, Rio, shmio, what do I know about Rio? They used to wear headgear, now they don’t. It’s crazy, I tell ya.
They got all these rules and things, these big shots with their fancy words. What do they call it? The, uh, the AIBA. Yeah, that’s it. They’re the ones who made this rule, took away the headgear. They say it’s better this way. Better? How can it be better? Those boys are gonna get hurt, I tell ya. They are gonna get their heads knocked around. And for what? For a medal?
Why They Say No More Headgear
They say it’s ’cause of some study. Some big study they did. They say with those headgear on, the fighters, they can’t see as good. They say the fighters, they get hit more ’cause they can’t see the punches coming. I don’t know about that. Seems to me, you get hit in the head, it’s gonna hurt whether you see it coming or not. But what do I know? I’m just an old lady.
They also say with those headgear, the fighters, they feel too safe. Like they can just take a punch. So they go in there, all wild, not protecting themselves. Like a bunch of bulls in a china shop. They say without the headgear, they fight smarter. They move more, they dodge more. They don’t just stand there and take it. It is about the boxing, they say, not about banging heads.
- No headgear since 2016 Rio Olympics
- AIBA made the rule, they’re the big shots
- They say fighters can see better without headgear
- They say fighters fight smarter without headgear
It’s All About the Show
I heard them say, they want it to be more like the professional boxing, the kind you see on TV, where they pay them big money. Those guys, they never wear headgear. They say it’s more exciting that way, more action. People like to see the punches land, they say. They like to see the sweat and, well, you know. It’s more of a show, I guess. I don’t know, in my opinion, it is just more dangerous.
But the Olympic boxing, it is supposed to be different. It is about the sport, or something like that. It is about representing your country. They ain’t getting paid, not like those pros. Well, not as much, anyway. So why they gotta fight like them? Why they gotta take those risks? I just think that they are gonna get hurt for nothing.
And the girls, they still wear them headgear. Why is that? Why the girls gotta wear them, but the boys don’t? They say it’s ’cause the girls, they got less experience. Less experience? What’s that supposed to mean? They hit just as hard, don’t they? It just doesn’t make no sense, I tell ya. They should just put the headgear back on everybody, that’s what I say.
And that’s about the size of it. These young folks, they got their own ideas. They say it’s better this way, safer this way. They say it’s more exciting. But me, I don’t know. I just worry about those boys getting hurt. I just hope they know what they’re doing. Olympic boxing without headgear is a different world, I tell you that. A different world.
Boxing and Safety
They say they got doctors there, watching real close. They say they stop the fight if it gets too rough. They say they are taking care of them. But still, a punch is a punch. You get hit in the head enough times, it ain’t gonna be good, no matter how many doctors you got standing around. In my opinion, headgear or no headgear, boxing is still a rough sport.
And you know, they say it’s for the sport. For the love of the game. But sometimes, I wonder. Is it really worth it? All that pain, all that risk. Just to win a medal? I guess that’s for them to decide. They are young, they are strong. They want to prove something. To themselves, to the world. I just hope they don’t regret it later.
Well, that’s my two cents. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe they know what they’re doing. Maybe this no headgear in Olympic boxing thing is a good idea. But me, I’m gonna keep worrying. That’s what old ladies do. We worry. We remember the old days, when things were different, maybe a little safer. And we hope for the best. We always hope for the best.
