The safety

of amateur boxing has been well documented. The
1998 National Safety Council ranked boxing 71st in sports injuries,
well below mainstream sports like wrestling, football, baseball,
soccer and even bowling. Most of the negative publicity about
the sport centers around professional boxing, when, in fact
professional boxing is much different than amateur boxing.
No other amateur sport takes more precautions, in regard to safety,
than amateur boxing. Amateur boxers must receive a physical
examination before and after each competition. Special protective
equipment is mandatory for each competition. The primary directive
of all amateur referees is the safety of the boxers. In addition,
all competition gloves and headgear contain exact combinations
of shock-absorbing foams to reduce the impact of a blow. Every
possible precaution is taken to keep amateur boxing safe.