Are you looking to take up boxing as a sport and wondering what safety equipment should you start with? Well, that’s a good question — no reputable football coach would send one of his players without the proper protective gear.
There’s a common misconception that all you need to get started with boxing is a good pair of gloves. While the latter does protect your hands from getting injured, they are not enough to keep you safe in a contact sport like boxing.
So what other boxing safety equipment do you need?
The good news is that as a sport, boxing is widely regarded as much more economical. Once you have the essentials, the rest of the purchases are minor, and upkeep is almost always incidental.
One safety equipment you would want to start with is a rubber mouthguard, which is extremely important in boxing. If you check stores like The Fight Factory, you will find that the best ones only cost around $30 to $40.
A quality mouthguard is a good investment for any beginner and certainly much cheaper than the dental operation you would need if you were to suffer severe injuries to your gums and teeth. A mouthguard will help prevent (or at least minimize) these problems so you can focus on the sport.
Another piece of safety gear that is extremely important in boxing is the headgear. Note that the ones used in training are different from those used in competitive matches. The latter is generally lighter and offers maximum protection to the ears and eyes. Beginners need to ensure that they get one that is specifically designed for boxing. That is to say, the headgear must have an extra cushion on the base of the skull to prevent serious injuries should a boxer get knocked out on the canvas.
It is interesting to note that punches do not cause most severe injuries from boxing, but rather the result of getting knocked down on a hard surface. Hence, it would be prudent not to skimp out on the headgear’s quality as it might just save your life.
Other safety equipment that must be considered (though it’s not necessarily the responsibility of the boxer) has to do with the boxing environment:
- There must be cushions extending over the four corners of the ring.
- Rope and turnbuckles should be padded with gauze or flannel
- The boxing mat needs to be at least 2 inches thick
Safety precautions in boxing
Almost all accidents in boxing are the result of negligence and a lax attitude towards safety. All safety gear mentioned above must be present regardless of whether you’re in a competitive match or a regular sparring session.
Call out people’s attention if your mouthguard or headgear falls out of place. Even in a competitive match, you’ll be given time to adjust or replace the gear.
Last but not least, acknowledge that there are simply limits to what safety boxing gear can do. Hence, it is essential to ensure that there’s a medical professional present even during practice matches. It’s not to say that boxing is a hazardous sport. Only that there are precautions that need to be taken to manage the risks.
