The International Boxing Association (IBA) held a coaches’ forum in Niš, Serbia, to discuss the removal of headguards in women’s boxing.

IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE was joined by IBA Coaches Committee Chairman Gabriele Martelli, IBA Board of Directors member Kristy Harris and IBA Sports Director Alexandr Egorov for the meeting, which was attended by coaches from dozens of countries, on the eve of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Mr Roberts opened up the meeting with setting the scene in this subject matter, introducing the panel, along with the proposals moving forward.

The headguards were officially removed a year ago with a three-month probation period, however, following the consultations with the national coaches, the IBA allowed to compete in headguards at the 2025 edition.

Gabrielle Martelli outlined the long-term plan – to make a trial analysis for the removal of headguards for a period of 12 months at specific tournaments around the world.

‘With the Coaches Committee, we had a meeting and realized that this might be fairer to give coaches more time to shift to this change through international championships that aren’t at risk of ruining a potential world or continental titles,’ said Martelli.

Martelli previously cited this period would allow coaches to educate their athletes and adapt to a different style of boxing. Less close combat – leading to less head injuries – and more quality boxing.

‘We keep the headguard during the World Championships and after this start a 12-month data collection through specific tournaments where boxers can go without the headguard and to see if this would be good,’ he said.

Kristy Harris, who won a bronze medal at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2018, made the case for removing the headguards soon.

‘I was weighing it up at the start and I was quite against it [removing headguards] because at the time there was not a lot of research there,’ said Harris, who stresses the studies that have since came out.

She went on to say, ‘What is for men, is for women. For example, concussions, cuts and fractures. The science does say that concussion is irrelevant when it comes to this. You’re going to lean in and use your head more with the headguard on. Concussion is not really something to worry about when taking the headguards off. With regards to cuts and fractures, they can be very serious, but the men are doing this, and the women can do this too and box better. Better boxing is keeping your range, not smothering one another and hitting your heads. You want to think of the safety of your boxers, and we also want to make it about equality.’

Martelli has suggested education programs to help coaches – and in turn, athletes – approach boxing without headguards, which male boxers have adapted to since the rule change for them.

A proposal for the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, which would have allowed the removal of headguards for the finals only, was rejected.

A diversity of opinions was expressed with support and opposition of the removal, with the IBA team considering the concerns raised with the World Championships suggestion, opting not to implement this.

Martelli was clear that the proposed 12-month trial period, which is still being considered, would focus on data collection at specific events to better decide whether to implement the removal permanently or to keep the headguards on.

IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships kicks off on 9 March with an evening session at 18:00 CET and will be live streamed fully on the IBA YouTube channel. All draws, schedules and results are available on IBA website. Photos can be found on IBA Flickr channel.

Earlier, IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships commenced with a spectacular Opening Ceremony in Niš.

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Media contacts:

Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport