The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has issued a letter to AIBA National Member Federations regarding new rules following the removal of headguards from all Elite Men’s Competitions.
After that new rule, some further research has taken place which concluded that most cuts are caused by either head butting or illegal blows. Therefore, the AIBA EC Bureau decided today to strengthen some of the AIBA Technical Rules to prevent cuts from Boxers using their head and other parts of their body, not punches, during Bouts as follows:
- 8.3 If the Referee stops a Bout following the advice of the Ringside Physician because a Boxer has an injury or cut caused by head butting or illegal blows, the Referee must disqualify the offending Boxer
- 8.4 If a Boxer receives head butting or illegal blows which do not cause an injury or cut, the Referee will give a Warning to the offending Boxer, deducting one (1) point per Judge
- 8.5 If a Boxer receives head butting or illegal blows which cause an injury or cut and the Ringside Physician allows the Bout to continue, the Referee will give a Warning to the offending Boxer, deducting two (2) points per Judge
These new rules apply immediately.
