They have changed all the weight structure. I haven't any clue any longer even WHAT the structure is now. Oh, "one clue"......they now have a '152lb' WT. structure in place of X - 156/ 147. AAIB (is that it?) brought this OFF WHO'S LEAD???
Well apparently retired pros are going to be allowed in the olympics so amateur boxing is going to get very old.
the weight classes changed around 2010 or 2011 to allow for the three women's categories at the 2012 Olympics. the international governing body is AIBA, who is trying to get the lock on ALL boxing. learn more at AIBA.org I think amateur boxing is in an upswing. with more pro boxing available (nbc, cbs, spike) to watch, the youth will start searching out ways to do it. more demand, more reason for gyms to exist, more talent pool for countries to pick from.
Slightly off-topic but still relevant - I was watching some special on the headgear last night.. it seemed inconclusive still with one side saying it is safer(less concussions with the headgear) than with it. They had a story though about how one young fighters dream got destroyed since they changed the rule cause someone headbutted him and basically split his face open. Personally, I think I'd rather fight without the headgear. Sure it protects your face from cuts and broken noses at certain angles but it feels like it is a bigger target and sort of encourages you to lead more with your head cause of the weight change up top.
Well the cut side of things is the biggest argument for headgear. When your talking about high level amateurs who have 60,70,80 fights I really can't see many coming through that amount of fights without sustaining cuts which going into the pros will have adverse effects. Your absolutely right about the rest though wearing headgear makes you easier to get hit it's as simple as that, bigger target and harder to move your head away.
search for the aiba channel on youtube and watch some of their tournaments. amateur boxing has always been a points game and at the international level you'll witness the elite guys getting their head FAR off centerline and throwing almost dramatically looping counter shots. it's not just for basic boxing of hit and don't get hit, its so the judges see it more clearly. 1992 was first olympics for computer scoring, which changed the game in a lot of ways. its much more of an outside game. so, when they clash up against each other, head cuts happen because they just don't know how to be safe on the inside. now they don't have head gear (to be like the pros), and they don't know how to fight on the inside like the pros. very dangerous. mind you, this is my righteous opinion. watch aiba boxing and come to your own conclusions.
