Women's Amateur Boxing

A few  weeks ago, I received some e-mail from "Down Under" reminding me not to forget about women's boxing programs on this website.  I replied that it was on my list of things to do.  And its about time.  In my lifetime, I have seen women's amateur boxing become more accepted and more widespread.  Nowadays,  opportunities for their participation in the sport abound.  And why not? Who can dispute that girls will derive the same benefits that boys have from participating in boxing, or any sport for that matter.  Self-confidence, physical fitness, self-discipline are not qualities to be admired and encouraged in one gender and not in the other. 

I have worked with women practicing their boxing skills and have watched women's supervised sparring in gyms where I work out.  But, I have yet to see women in amateur competition, although I soon will.  What do I expect to see?  The same skills, intensive competition, and sportsmanship that I have seen in boy's competition for many years.  As the pictures on this page show, the skills the must be mastered are the same.  This requires the same dedication to learning, attention to detail, and commitment to training.  Therefore, I expect the results to be the same.  Since it requires the same qualities, its participants should be judged on the basis of the skills they exhibit, not on their gender.  The benefits of the sport accrue to individuals on the basis of their commitment.  As such, all youngsters who want to participate must be afforded the opportunity to do so.  People who dismiss women's participation as being uninteresting should remember that participation in any recreational sport should be for the benefit of the individual, not for the interest of the spectator.

Recreational boxing takes many forms.  One of the more popular forms that I have seen is classes that combine aerobic conditioning and boxing movements--commonly called aerobic boxing or boxaerobics.  Women participants seem predominant in aerobics classes in general and in this form in particular.  The benefits of this form of recreational boxing are great cardiovascular conditioning and over time you will develop stamina and endurance.  Anyone who thinks otherwise should try it, as I have, and see if you can last the entire hour.  I didn't.  But while the movements mimic boxing, I find that they lack the precision and attention to form that contact boxing requires.  Very often hands are held too low, punches are thrown incorrectly, and the boxer's stance is wrong.  In fairness, aerobic boxing does not purport to be preparation for contact.  In fact, contact with anything other than pads is avoided. 

If you want to step up to competitive amateur boxing, how do you do it?  One way is to visit the USA Boxing website and checkout the section on Women's Boxing.  The pages on the site contain information about the history of women's participation in the sport, which developed as the sport developed.  Another site that contains a great deal of information about women's boxing is Girlbox.  Also, remember that boxing offers several opportunites for participation, including officiating.  One of the best all-around websites I've seen on amateur boxing was created and maintain by the "Boxing Grandmother" Melanie Ley.

One aspect that I do find disturbing is the effort in some quarters that advocates men and women of any age competing against each other, something strictly forbidden in USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur boxing.  It is not a matter of skill or physical ability.  Men striking women is a cultural taboo that needs not only to be maintained but strengthened.  Any activity that erodes this taboo is dangerous, no matter how well intended.  I think this is one way that boxing stands apart from other contact sports, such as basketball and soccer, where boys and girls regularly compete together and against each other to the detrement of none involved.  I am as equally opposed to different gender competition in all amateur combat sports.   I will also admit a certain bias (call it prejudice if you want to).  From a boy's point of view, fighting a girl is a no-win situation.  If you win, you are seen as having "beat up a on girl" and if you lose you "were beat up by a girl."  Some will say, "so what, that's reality."  But, I think that at a certain age, that distinction is important, and one that warrants maintaining the gender segregation in amateur combat sports, especially in boxing where an excellent program is available for both genders.

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If you have any comments on this page, please send them to me via email at oldbxr@mailcity.com