The Games in Incheon concluded earlier this month and AIBA reported that none of the competitors taking part suffered any form of concussion.

All but two of the bouts in the South Korean city went the full distance and the two boxers that suffered technical knock-outs did not show any signs of concussion following medical tests, the world governing body has revealed.

A statement from AIBA read: "This result demonstrates that concussion should not be an issue for the sport of boxing if elite men's competitions are held without headguards in.

"Nevertheless, now that the Asian Games are over, AIBA also plans to adopt a new system to continue to closely monitor all bouts to ensure any possible concussions will be observed."

AIBA announced last year it was scrapping headgear for eilte men's competition following what it says were extensive medical reviews and studies carried out by its Medical Commission and by an independent physician-researcher in a recent publication in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

According to data, AIBA claimed the removal of headguards in elite men's competition would result in a decreased number of concussions.

AIBA claims its decision to scrap headguards has been vindicated by no reports of concussion during boxing competition at the Asian Games in Incheon ©Getty Images




The new rules were first applied at the World Boxing Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan last year and will be applied to all major international competitions including the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Headguards are still a requirement in women's boxing.

However, the move has been criticised by many within the sport including two-time world boxing champion and Athens 2004 Olympic Games silver medallist Amir Khan, who claimed headguards should be reinstated in order to better protect the fighters, particularly against cuts.

That argument gained some traction at this year's Commonwealth Games when Australian boxer Daniel Lewis was prevented from taking part in his welterweight quarter-final bout with Indian Mandeep Jangra in Glasgow.

A doctor deemed the cut Lewis sustained in his round-of-16 win over Nigeria's Kehinde Ademuyiwa was too severe to carry on.

However, AIBA has insisted the decision to scrap headguards in men's competition will not be reversed and has even taken to encouraging boxers to use a new cut preventative cream called Cavilon in an effort to reduce the problem.

The cream could become mandatory once tests are fully completed regarding its risk of causing allergic reactions.

Critics of the no-headguard rule say it is leading to more instances of cutting during bouts ©Getty Images




AIBA said it is enforcing stricter rules on the use of head and elbows during bouts and is confident that cuts will become less of an issue in future.

"To prevent any cuts, AIBA has adopted very strict rules against any boxer who might have the habit of using his head and elbow as a tactic to conduct aggressive competition and to win matches," continued today's statement.

"As a result the rate of cuts has substantially decreased to less than three per cent.

"AIBA believes cuts are not a major concern as they will naturally go away at the higher level of boxing competitions as time goes by, due to the fact that the boxers, coaches and referees will know how to conduct the bouts avoiding cuts."

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