Hours Before Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz’s 10-Round War, VADA Stressed on Having Concussion Protocols for Women in Sports

Boxing is a brutal sport. Fighters can suffer injuries that can prove to be life-altering. The fighters take a risk whenever they step into the ring. Even though injuries are an intrinsic characteristic of every sport, the threat of injuries in boxing is starker than in any other sport. The most treacherous injury of all in boxing is an injury to the head. Head injuries in the sport pose a severe threat to the fighters. Recently, VADA (Voluntary Anti-doping Association) has emphasized the importance of female-centric protocols for the concussions experienced by female fighters in combat sports.

The health and safety of female boxers have been a long concern of the boxing community, and a lot has changed since the professional conception of the sport.

Serrano Vs. Cruz and the importance of women’s safety

The Boxing world has witnessed some of the greatest female boxers to ever tighten their gloves. But, a long debate has been on women’s safety in the sport. The recent undisputed championship bout between Amanda Serrano and Erika Cruz brought attention to the importance of the health and safety of women in sports even more. Serrano won the bout via unanimous decision, becoming the undisputed featherweight champion of the world.

Notably, Serrano and rival Katie Taylor became the first female athletes to ever headline a boxing match inside the reverent Madison Square Garden, New York

In a Tweet, an NGO named Pink Concussions announced a conference to discuss the importance of female-centric concussion protocols in sports. To this tweet, VADA replied, “Especially in boxing and MMA”. The NGO has advocated for women’s safety in sports, bringing attention to the head injury threats a sport imposes on the female players involved.

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As reported by Nature, Women are at a higher risk of concussions than men in sports. The concussions experienced by women can be more fatal and take more time to recover than in men.

Is Headgear the way to go?

Headguards can significantly reduce the chances of concussions in women. Headguards are an essential part of any boxer’s gym kit. The amateur international boxing association (AIBA) makes it mandatory for female fighters to wear head guards during fights. There is still very little evidence that proves the credibility of head guards in protecting the heads of female fighters from severe damage.

Female boxing is still a novel sport. There is a lot of research that needs to be done before we can come to a conclusion about the threat it poses to women’s health. What are your thoughts on this subject? Let us know in the comments.

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